Press – Ballet Virginia

Dance Power: Healing Hearts and Minds

By Kate Mattingly
VEER Magazine
February 15, 2022

Being an artist requires a ton of hard work, and few artists work harder than dancers. It’s the only art form where the human body is the vehicle of creativity and communication. Hampton Roads is home to a wealth of wonderful schools and professional dancers who perform regularly. This month there’s a dance concert that contributes to cancer research, and Ballet Virginia presents Coppélia at the Sandler Center in March.

Dwight Rhoden’s Choreography Comes to Hampton Roads

By Kate Mattingly
VEER Magazine
October 15, 2022

Dancers form unique friendships. Endless hours spent training, rehearsing, performing, plus partnering and sharing dressing rooms, lead to bonds that are long-lasting and steadfast.

‘Dance is just a reflection of life, and life is about everyone’ | Ballet Virginia combines classical ballet, diverse stories

By Dana Price

Channel 13 News Now

March 12, 2022

The company is putting representation and diversity at the forefront. Their next production will be Sleeping Beauty in April.

Ballet Virginia gears up for emotional, grief-stricken tribute to the Central Park Five

By SALEEN MARTIN

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

JAN 28, 2022

Jalen Williams crouched on the studio floor, his head bowed to his hands in prayer.

The ballet dancer was portraying 14-year-old Kevin Richardson after Richardson had been falsely accused and arrested for the rape of a woman in a 1989 New York case. Four other dancers surround Williams, each portraying scared, confused teenagers who were also jailed. Read more

Arts Undercurrent: Ballet Virginia’s Visions of Hope

–WHRO Radio

By Rebecca Weinstein, May 12, 2021

Ballet Virginia‘s new production, “Visions of Hope,” is centered on the journey of moving forward after hardship, featuring both classical and contemporary dance pieces. Rebecca Weinstein spoke with the choreographers behind the show, Lydia Roberts Coco, Suzanne Lownsbury, and Janina Michalski.

Ballet Virginia returns with ‘Visions of Hope’ after 440 days without live performances

-The Virginian Pilot

By Amy Poulter, May 13, 2021

For their first public performances in more than a year, Ballet Virginia will return with a production that aims to capture the grief, strife, exasperation, and even gratitude, that reflect the world’s journey during the past 14 months.

“Visions of Hope” will feature both classical and contemporary works from the company’s eight professional dancers, two guest dancers and aspiring dancers from Ballet Virginia’s second company, BVII.

Ballet Virginia Returns to the Stage

-WAVY News 10

By Kayla Gaskins, May 15, 2021

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — After more than a year, Ballet Virginia returned to the theater this weekend for their first live performances since the shutdowns began.

The professional ballet company preformed “Visions of Hope” in front of a live, socially distanced, audience at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach.

Curate on PBS, Season 5 – Episode 12

See Ballet Virginia dancers Hayley-Ann Vasco and Jackson Kettell. Their story starts at 6:43 in this episode of Curate.

By Joshua Evans, April 30, 2021

The Art of Interacting Online

-Spotlight News

By Louise Casini Hollis, April 20, 2020

As coronavirus continues, instructors find a way to keep teaching the next generation of artists

-Virginian Pilot By Amy Poulter, April 12, 2020

Arts Undercurrent: Diversity in Dance

–WHRO Radio Interview and Transcript By Rebecca Evans, February 26, 2020

“9 to 5 Company Dancers for Ballet Virginia”

–Ghent Living By Sheila Kilpatrick, February 2020 issue

“Mariah Bennett: Rising Kitty Hawk star takes the stage for Ballet Virginia”

– Coastland Times By Danielle Puelo, December 18, 2019

“Landstown High senior looks back at 10 years of performing in The Nutcracker”

–The Virginian Pilot By Cindy Butler Focke, Dec. 17, 2019

Gus Perrotti, a Kings Grant resident, was about 7 years old when he first tried a class conducted by Ballet Virginia at the Great Neck Recreation Center.

“Dazzling Dancer Performs with Ballet Virginia for The Nutcracker”

-Coastal Virginia Magazine

By Ryan Miller, November/December 2019 issue

In a tutu and pointe shoes, balancing on the tip of her toes, arms raised, poised posture, this is Isabel Cary en pointe. Along with her sparkling crown and bodice, Cary will gracefully dance on stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in Ballet Virginia’s 12th annual Nutcracker at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 20–22.

“Ballet pushes for success in Hampton Roads”

-WAVY TV, Oct 28, 2019

“Ballet Virginia debuts as a professional company Friday with a Halloween-inspired show, Masquerade.”

– The Virginian Pilot By Denise Watson, October 24, 2019

Last week, 10 adult dancers – the founding members of Ballet Virginia’s professional corps – spun and leaped the length of the rehearsal hall as they worked for their debut this weekend in “Masquerade.”

Talking with a lifelong dancer and professional choreographer on Coast Live

Coast Live/WTKR, October 21, 2019

Lydia Roberts Coco found herself in New York City at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s School on a full scholarship at the age of seventeen. Today she is the resident choreographer for Ballet Virginia’s professional company.

“Muttcracker audition seeks dogs for ballet in December”

– The Virginian Pilot

By Robyn Sidersky, October 17, 2019

A dog chasing its tail does not count as a pirouette. But that won’t stop local canines from being cast in Ballet Virginia’s production of “The Nutcracker” over the holidays.

“Ballet Virginia adds sister location in Virginia Beach”

– The Virginian Pilot By Eric Hodies, Correspondent, Jul 2, 2019

There’s activity at the building at 4314 Virginia Beach Blvd. near the entrance to Thalia. What’s going on? Virginia Beach residents aspiring to learn a few ballet moves can dance over to that building beginning Aug. 5.

“Ballet Virginia International Presents “Snow

White”

– Alt Daily, March 12, 2019

Ballet Virginia International (BVI) is proud to present “Snow White”, April 6 at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach. Featuring guest artists, BVI’s company and students, the production is among a series of full-length classical ballets the company has presented over the past eleven seasons, appealing to both young audiences and those who are young at heart.

Three sisters part of “The Nutcracker” in Virginia Beach this weekend

-By Lee Belote, The Virginian Pilot, Dec 12, 2018

Page and Jason Miyares have three good reasons to attend “The Nutcracker” performance at the Sandler Center. They are Gabriella, Elaina and Sophia.The Wimbledon on the Bay residents will be watching all three of their daughters perform in “The Nutcracker,” which is presented by Ballet Virginia International, a regional ballet company that’s located in Ghent.

Interview with BV director Suzanne Lownsbury and dancer Julia Stewart

Click here to read the Virginian Pilot article about BVI’s beloved Nutcracker party dads

Click here to read the Virginian Pilot Nutcracker photos by Bill Tiernan

Click here to read the Virginian Pilot article about some of our company dancers

Click here to read the Virginian Pilot article about BVI’s Cinderella 2016

Click here to read the Virginian Pilot article featuring BVI Company dancer Leah Upchurch

Click here to view the interview on WVEC with Suzanne Lownsbury and LeeAnn Walker

Click here for an article on BVI dancer Caileigh Gold

Click here for Nutcracker 2014 rehearsal photos in the Virginian Pilot

Click here for an article on BVI’s Fritz and Clara in the Virginian Pilot

Click here for Nutcracker 2013 rehearsal video by Cox Channel 11

Click here for Nutcracker 2013 rehearsal video by the Virginian Pilot