A nonprofit organization exposing children to great music, theater, and the beauty of expression through dance.
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Join us February 4th at Fatz Cafe on West Market St. for a pancake breakfast fundraiser
City Youth Ballet of Johnson City seeks a Cavalier/Snow King for their December 16-22 2012 Nutcracker performance. for more information please contact the studio via email or phone.
The City Youth Ballet is a chartered, not-for-profit performance organization in Johnson City, TN, offering an extensive repertoire of classical and contemporary ballet performances for the genereal public and school groups throughout the year. The CYB is privileged to perform with groups such as the East Tennessee Regional Symphony and the Johnson City Orchestra. The CYB provides high quality performances of classical ballets such as the Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, and Coppelia, as well as contemporary and lesser known ballets such as Dracula, Peter and the Wolf, and Hans Christian Andersen. Original, commissioned works are also part of the CYB's repertoire.
Along with the expertise of Susan Pace, the CYB's Artistic Director, the CYB invites guest dancers and teachers from internationally celebrated companies and schools to conduct workshops for its dancers and for interested community members.
City Youth Ballet
history spans over 80 years in the community
In 1928, Reese Holloway, a talented dancer, and her sister Wilma., a conservatory trained pianist, introduced East Tennessee to classical ballet by opening the Holloway Dancing School of Johnson City (which later became Johnson City Ballet). Taking their training very seriously, the two sisters and their students traveled to New York City each summer to study with such 20th century dance luminaries as Andre Eglevsky, Igor Youskevitch, Leon Danielian, Thalia Mara, Robert Joffrey, and Arthur Mitchell. Other ballet notables - including Nowell Smith and Yvonne Hall of Dance Theater of Harlem, Robert Barnett of Atlanta Ballet and New York City Ballet, Anna-Marie Holmes of the Boston Ballet and Gelsey Kirkland of New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater - traveled to Johnson City as guest dancers and teachers for the Holloway School and the Johnson City Ballet.
Throughout the years, Reese (later Reese Holloway Toohey) and Wilma (later Wilma Holloway Pace) taught and enriched the community with regular recitals and performances at the old Majestic Theater and the John Sevier Ballroom. Weekly performances were given for returning WWII soldiers at V.A. Theater at Mountain Home. Reese and Wilma began a tradition of quality instruction and performance which has continued for over 80 years.
With Wilma's daughter Susan Pace as the City Youth Ballet's Artistic Director, the tradition continues. Hardworking volunteers, parents, and dancers have helped realize the dream of a nonprofit, semi-professional dance company, supported by the community and starring the community's youth.
Artistic Director
Susan Pace
Susan Pace began her training at the Holloway Dancing School of Johnson City, Tennessee. At the age of 8, she was invited to study with Thalia Mara and Arthur Mahoney in New York City. At age 16, she was offered a scholarship to the School of American Ballet. At age 19, she was dancing professionally with the Miami Junior Civic Ballet. Ms. Pace studied with Rudolph Nureyev at the National Ballet of Canada, Leon Danielian of American Ballet Theatre, Melissa Hayden of Skidmore College in New York, Edward Caton and Mary Day of Washington School of Ballet, and others.
Ms. Pace has taught classical ballet for 40 years and has been the Director of the Johnson City Ballet since 1990. She has a broad view of classical ballet and, as a result, seeks out other professionals to help her train her students. Many of her students have gone on to dance in college or with major ballet companies, including the Atlanta Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Washington Ballet, the San Diego Ballet, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, and the San Antonio Ballet.
She has conducted outreach workshops in city recreation programs and public schools throughout Northease Tennessee. Ms. Pace received the Tennessee Governor’s School Outstanding Teacher of the Year award for 2003 and was recently named as a Tri-Cities Local Hero.
Sarah Sims
Shannon Bowman Stinnett
One of Susan Pace White's former soloists and instructors from 17 years ago has returned to assist with instruction. Shannon received her ballet training from: Edward Villa of New York City Ballet (now director of Miami City Ballet), Jeremey Blanton and JOan Butram of New York Joffery Ballet, Claudia Folts of the Charlotte City Ballet, Tommy Robinson of COlumbia City Ballet of Columbia, South carolina, Susan anderson of the Conservatory of South Carolina, Michael Blevins - Broadyway New York, Daniel Tanazzof Steps in New York, Jeffrey Freeze of North Carolina School of Arts, and John Cronin of North Carolina School of Arts.
As a former soloist for CYB, Shannon's leading roles include: The Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, Anne Pavolovas Dying Swan, The Red Shoes, Les Sylpheds Mazurka, Spring from Seasons, and Aerial in the The Little Mermaid as guest artisit in Charlotte, NC.
Erin Coker
Cassi White
City Youth Ballet Studio
3501 W. Market St.
Johnson City, TN 37604
(423)434-2195
January
Registration ongoing please contact the studio for more information
February
Feb. 4th 8:00a.m. Fundraiser Fatz Cafe on West Market St. in Johnson City
March
October
Oct. 14th: 7:30p.m. Dracula at Paramount Theater in Bristol
Oct. 15th: 2:30 and 7:30p.m. Dracula at Paramount Theater in Bristol
Oct. 28th: 5:30 p.m. Halloween party at CYB studio. Call 434-2195 for details
November
December
Dec. 12 Fundraiser at Chick-Fil-A on West Market St. 5-8 p.m.
The Nutcracker at Gregory Center for Liberal Arts, Milligan College Campus: Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17th at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18th at 2:30 p.m.
Johnson City’s enduring holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” returns as the City Youth Ballet performs the full-length ballet featuring a magical place of waltzing snowflakes, mischievous mice, and adorable angels. The Victorian-era story unfolds at the Gregory Center on the Milligan College campus with four performances, Dec. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 17 and 18 at 2:30 p.m.
In its 30th year, the local production of this family classic showcases local dancers on stage in glittering costumes, spectacular scenery all set to the familiar score of composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Guest artist Adam Schiffer is appearing courtesy of Carolina Ballet and performs as the Cavalier and Snow King. He is a native of Budapest, Hungary, and a graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy.
With Susan Pace-White, the production is also directed by Sarah Sims, CYB’s associate director, and Erin Coker, both former CYB dancers. Among CYB’s sponsors this year are Milligan College, the AmercInn Suites in Jonesborough, Chick-Fil-A, and Mountain States Health Alliance.
General admission tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children under 12 and are available at Bear ‘n Friends at the Peerless Centre on North Roan Street and Party Central, also on North Roan Street, or at the door. For more information, visit www.cityyouthballet.org or call 423-434-2195. The Gregory Center is handicapped accessible.
From: Hungary
Rank: Company
Joined Carolina Ballet: 2008
Adam Schiffer is a native of Budapest, Hungary where he graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy in 2005. In the following seasons, he performed with the Vienna State Opera, the Slovakian National Opera, and the Columbia Classical Ballet. While at Columbia Classical Ballet, he performed principal roles and was invited to perform as a part of Ballet Builders in New York City by Rick McCullough. In 2007, Mr. Schiffer was awarded the Viktor Fulop Scholarship from the Hungarian Ministry of Culture. And he has participated in summer intensive programs at North Carolina Dance Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina; Pergine Spettacolo Aperto in Milan, Italy; and the Ballet des Jeunes d’Europe in Marseilles, France. He also has toured in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, France, and in the USA. In spring 2008, Mr. Schiffer performed with Carolina Ballet in Sleeping Beauty.
