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| Sharon Allen Asst. Artistic Director |
Dorothy Lister Ballet Mistress |
Northwest Florida Ballet was founded in 1969 by dance pioneer Bernadette Clements Sims. The organization’s mission is to provide quality dance performances and instruction for Northwest Florida; identify and develop talented dancers; and increase appreciation of the arts through public education and outreach. The company has performedwith such well-established companies as the Atlanta Ballet, the Miami Ballet and the Washington Ballet. Founder Bernadette Clements facilitated the formation of the Florida Dance Association.
NFB has produced many outstanding professional dancers and teachers who perform throughout the US and Europe. In 1995, Todd Eric Allen, former NFB student and native of Northwest Florida, returned to the area to accept the position of Artistic Director of the company after a distinguished career as soloist with Louisville Ballet, Boston Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.
In August 2002 NFB moved into its new home in downtown Fort Walton Beach, the Sybil Smith Lebherz Center for Dance Education. The 13,000 sq. ft. facility provides much needed studio space, as well as room for costume and scenery building and storage.
NFB Académie
NFB Académie is a comprehensive academic and artistic education program offered jointly by Northwest Florida Ballet and the Okaloosa County School District. The NFB Académie opened in August 2002 with an initial class of 30 third graders. Each year the students are selected by audition from the general population of children in the second grade. No prior dance training and no particular academic achievement is required. Auditions are open to all children in the second grade and selection is made solely on the child’s potential to learn to dance.
Partnerships
NFB has formed very strong relationships with other performing arts organizations, including the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, the Pensacola Opera and the Arts and Design Society. NFB performs at The Mattie Kelly Arts Center, at the Saenger theatre in Pensacola, and at a number of outdoor Florida venues including Rosemary Beach, Grand Boulevard and The Village at Baytown Wharf.