Charlotte Ballet has a rich history of touring, having once been named the United States’ highest rated touring company by the National Endowment for the Arts. In recent years, Charlotte Ballet has focused efforts on growing audiences in its home city of Charlotte and conducting annual residencies at The Chautauqua Institution in New York and The Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina.
KMP Artists is led by Founder and CEO Kristopher McDowell, well known for presenting contemporary dance from around the world, with a focus on the Pacific Rim. Charlotte Ballet joins other KMP Artists managed companies including Australian Dance Theatre, Beijing Dance Theater and Kun-Yang Lin Dancers.
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Charlotte Ballet in this capacity and ecstatic about all the company will accomplish under the artistic direction of Hope Muir,” KMP Artists CEO Kristopher McDowell said.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR HOPE MUIR GIVES HER TAKE ON THE MANY BENEFITS OF TOURING:
Greater opportunities for the dancers
“Artistically, the simple benefit of touring is that the dancers get to perform more, which in turn helps further develop them as artists. By increasing the opportunity to perform, the dancers can further invest in their work and access it from a more informed position. Touring brings the possibility of extensive travel and would bring the dancers so many exciting new experiences and exposure to different cultures and communities. This in turn would help shape and color their approach to their career.”
Charlotte Ballet as a cultural ambassador
“The dancers are ambassadors for Charlotte Ballet and the work we present, but with the possibility of touring, they become ambassadors for the city of Charlotte and the United States as well.”
Local audiences reap the rewards
“Charlotte audiences will get to see what we do first and before the rest of the world. If we are innovative and are producing works of artistic excellence with high performance value here in Charlotte, we will capture the attention and interest of audiences worldwide. With the tours will come the opportunity to collaborate with new choreographers, designers, theaters and schools to help to shape the future of Charlotte Ballet. We will be excited to bring back everything we have learned to our loyal Charlotte audiences.”
Charlotte Ballet’s profile is raised
“Being invited to tour is an accolade and means we are producing work that is curious and interesting to the rest of the world.Charlotte Ballet will be known as the company that takes risks and presents dance with a fresh and unique edge- a company that makes good, creative choices. Charlotte audiences will be exposed to this level of excellence that reflects not only us as a company, but the community of Charlotte in which we serve.”
It’s a win-win
“The journey is circular really: the more, cool stuff we create in Charlotte, the more people will want us to visit their cities. Then, we will bring everything new we have learned back to Charlotte – hopefully creating opportunities to collaborate and educate with a variety of new partners.”
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