Ballet Theatre Of Maryland Is Right On Pointe With The Community

By Dylan Roche
@DylRoche
@SPVoice 
Photo by Brian Lancione 

If the idea of ballet calls to mind images of girls in pink tutus doing simple steps to plunky piano accompaniment, think again. For 35 seasons, Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM) has proved the art of ballet to be a deep, engaging form of entertainment and a stamina-requiring sport.

Artistic director Dianna Cuatto came to BTM 10 years ago and has since helped further the company’s mission of providing Annapolis and Maryland with a fully professional ballet company that gives the state a voice in the art of dance. Cuatto has built on that vision, finding new and exciting ways to make BTM an indispensable part of local culture.

“What I’ve been doing is building on the original board’s vision, and bringing my own perspective to it,” Cuatto explained, noting that BTM strives to embody the ideals of energy, enthusiasm, athleticism, dynamism and passion.

Under Cuatto’s direction, BTM has thrived, offering Marylanders the chance to enjoy professional ballet without the trek into Washington, D.C., or beyond. Each year, the company produces a full season of ballet productions, including a family-geared season opener, a traditional performance of “The Nutcracker” and a mixed-repertory Director’s Choice, among others.

Cuatto serves as the company’s choreographer and has even helped develop pieces with a distinct Maryland flavor, including “Pirates of the Chesapeake,” “Frontier: The War of 1812” and a series based on the work of Edgar Allan Poe.

BTM employs a company of full-time professional dancers each season, and offers student dancers the opportunity to study alongside the professionals.

Cuatto explained how the training is a valuable experience for many young people. “To dance alongside a real professional is a great opportunity,” she said. “It leaves a lasting, positive impression. They learn life skills: to make a commitment, fulfill a contract, how to work hard, how to follow through, how to be a team player, how to manage time.”

One characteristic that sets BTM apart from other companies is its nurturing environment, which Cuatto says emphasizes equal training and equal opportunity while still demanding excellence. “It’s hard enough without trying to make it harder on people. We try to maintain more of a family atmosphere, as well as a business persona, than you might get in other organizations,” she said. Unlike other companies, in which directors can be very harsh, BTM emphasizes quality of dance and technique over body type.

In addition to benefitting the artistic community and offering training to students, BTM gives back through a variety of programs and initiatives. The company participates in 40-50 outreach programs every year at underserved schools across the state. In these programs, Cuatto and her dancers help train teachers on how to integrate dance and the arts into the classroom. Dancers will also perform for the students, and even help children create their own dances for performance.

Most of all, Cuatto helps engage local audiences with ballet as an art form and sport. “I think a lot of people don’t know what ballet is like; I encourage the community to come give us a try, either in a class or in the audience,” she said. “They might find they really enjoy what we have to offer.” She noted that a ballet is a far cry from a mundane display of simple dance steps – instead, they often tell engaging stories with great depth, and feature impressive strength on the part of the dancers.

BTM encourages interested patrons to call the main office at 410-224-5644 or visit the website at www.balletmaryland.org.