Tallahassee Ballet History

1972-1995

Tallhassee Ballet, founded in 1972, is an independent, non-profit organization administered by an active, voluntary Board of Directors. Joyce Straub, Artistic/Administrative Director and Kathryn Cashin, Artistic Associate have served as the directors since 1985.



The company is composed of over fifty dancers, selected through annual auditions from Tallahassee dance studios and area colleges. These dancers have the opportunity to work and study together under the direction of a ballet master/mistress and with local and visiting choreographers. This past year, the Company added a Professional Apprenticeship Program, which provides a stipend for dance majors at Florida State University who are seeking a career in ballet.

The Tallahassee Ballet is housed in a 4,500 square foot building with a large rehearsal hall, warehouse, two offices, and a costume shop. Volunteer work is channeled through a Ballet Guild, made up of over 100 volunteers who give endless volunteer hours for productions and fundraisers. The Company's repertoire of both classical and contemporary works are performed at Ruby Diamond Auditorium (seating capacity of 1,500) and Opperman Music Hall (seating capacity of 450) at

Florida State University.

The company presents three major concerts annually, "An Evening of Music and Dance", "Nutcracker", and "Dance for Spring". "An Evening of Music and Dance", first presented in 1990, is a collaboration between dancers, musicians, and choreographers. This concert is sponsored, in part, by FSU School of Music. The Tallahassee Ballet first presented "Nutcracker" in 1986. Over the past eight years the number of performances has increased as well as the addition of a full orchestra. This production not only provides a financial base, it also serves as a vehicle for importing professional guest artists from major ballet companies. "Dance for Spring" features both classical and contemporary works as well as established repertory. Both "Nutcracker" and "Dance for Spring" include a special performance for school age children through a cooperative effort with the Leon County School System and funding from the City of Tallahassee.