Who We Are

Marion Ballet Theater is a non-profit dance company founded by Jeanne Benson Smith under the name Marion Performing Ballet in 1979 to promote the artistry and magic of dance. Mrs. Smith was inspired by a lack of opportunity any serious performing ballet company in the Marion county area. In order to provide her students with an opportunity to view and more importantly perform in a serious ballet production she endeavored to create the Marion Performing Ballet. Over the years the company has provided an artistic outlet to young and old, dancers and audience members alike, bringing full-length ballets such as La Ballidere, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and more. Today our company has 80+ members ranging from 7 to 70 years of age and is resident company for the Ocala Civic Theatre. Productions are a community and family affair. Many local businesses and individual patrons support our company through monetary and In-kind donations. Family members are also involved in volunteer activities such as sewing costumes, building props and fundraising efforts. Recently to reflect the company’s commitment to offering solid and frequent opportunities for  theatrical dance performance, the name was changed to Marion Ballet Theater.

 

What are our Current Goals

Since its inception, the ballet company has brought the annual holiday classic, “The Nutcracker”, to the community. Striving to create enriching opportunities and increasing community outreach, the newest vision of the company, spearheaded by Nicole Benson, artistic director of the company and daughter of Jeanne Benson Smith, is the development of an original version of the ballet, “Cinderella”.  Because the Marion Performing Ballet perceives an increasing need to develop art appreciation in the young, we are seeking to extend its audience beyond those typical for our company by offering a well-known story in a classical ballet format. This increasing need to develop arts appreciation in the young, especially in light of the current emphasis on performance standards (FCAT) in the Florida school system can often be best brought to light with classic stories such as Cinderella and can build the imagination, appeal to the senses, introduce creative thinking, and even develop an appreciation of the various cultures. The Marion Performing Ballet hopes to provide at least two additional performances of our Spring 2008 Ballet to schoolchildren at no cost, master classes to local student of classical ballet by professional dancers brought in from out of town. In addition, the Ballet would provide curriculum support materials to interested teachers that would match classroom activities to the Florida educational Sunshine State Standards. Along with our full length ballets held at the Ocala Civic Theater during the 2008-2009 season, we will also hold performances of the Giselle and a contemporary piece in an evening of Ballet through the Ages.