CHAMBERLAIN BALLET
Celebrating Four Decades of Building Outstanding Artists
Information provided by Chamberlain Ballet.
Founded in 1984, Chamberlain Ballet is celebrating its 40th year enriching the community through the art of ballet. A nonprofit organization, Chamberlain Ballet strives to provide high-quality dance education and performance opportunities to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Their mission is “to inspire and uplift through exceptional ballet training, fostering a deep appreciation for the performing arts while nurturing the personal and artistic growth of their dancers.”
Students ranging in age from fifth grade to high school audition for Chamberlain’s Ballet Company each year. These talented dancers are afforded multiple performance opportunities throughout the season, starting with The Nutcracker at Richardson’s Eisemann Center during Thanksgiving weekend.
The Nutcracker’s young dancers take to the stage alongside principal guest artists from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and other international companies. This experience gives young dancers first-hand insight into the dedication and commitment it takes to pursue a professional career and to be able to watch and learn how those at the pinnacle of their careers conduct themselves on and off the stage.
Richardson Ties
Kathy Chamberlain, the founder, owner and artistic director of the Chamberlain School of Ballet, grew up in Richardson. She began her training at the Etgen-Atkinson School of Ballet. At the age of twelve, she received a Ford Foundation Scholarship to study during her summers at the School of American Ballet in New York. She ultimately returned to Texas, graduated from Richardson High School in 1975, and chose to share her love and passion for dance with others.
Missy Shofner, Chamberlain Ballet’s Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, also has deep ties to Richardson, having lived in the community since 1997. She and her husband Todd, a Pearce graduate, have two children, Berkley and Zoe, who also graduated from Pearce. States Shofner, “We love the small town feel of Richardson and love being so close to family and the lifelong friends we’ve made here. For the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working at Chamberlain Ballet, a job that truly fulfills me.”
Exciting Outreach Programs
Chamberlain Ballet is dedicated to serving the greater community. The nonprofit has initiated outreach programs to bring dance classes and performances to the underprivileged and underserved in the area, including benefit performances of full productions, dance programs for at-risk youth, special needs children and young adults.
First among these programs is Relevé, which provides free after-school dance classes on a weekly basis to children ages 6-12 from Title 1 schools. More than 3,000 students have benefitted from this program since its inception in 1996. The children receive training from experienced teachers and then have an end-of-year recital. The program is offered at no cost to the students and is funded through donations, grants and corporate sponsorships.
Chamberlain Ballet has also served more than 500 students since 2005 through its Shining Stars program, which provides free dance classes on a weekly basis to children and young adults with disabilities. Shining Stars participants are physically or cognitively challenged and each class is tailored to suit young dancers’ specific needs. The program offers dancers the opportunity to learn new skills, combine movement and music in one class and, most importantly, to make new friends.
This year, thirty dedicated students from Richardson-based H.E.R.O.E.S (Helping Everyone Reach Outstanding Educational Success) are receiving weekly dance classes through Shining Stars.
Support from the City of Richardson
The City of Richardson has been a longtime supporter of Chamberlain Ballet through its annual grants provided to local arts groups. Enhancing the quality of life for its residents, the City of Richardson provides funding support through the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars (HOT funding). These monies are dedicated in part to providing residents with arts and culture.
Last spring, the City of Richardson provided an additional grant in support of Chamberlain Ballet’s 40th Anniversary Season. The additional funding opportunity will provide them with the ability to present a unique performance during this milestone season in collaboration with other area arts groups. Along with the Plano Civic Chorus, Chamberlain Ballet will present They Dance! They Sing! on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Eisemann Center’s Hill Performance Hall. The Richardson Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Plano Civic Chamber Chorus and Berkner High School’s a capella choir will also be participating.
Chamberlain Ballet’s 2024-2025 Season
Note: All of Chamberlain Ballet’s main stage performances are held in the Hill Performance Hall at the Eisemann Center in Richardson. Tickets will be available through the Eisemann Center Box Office
The Nutcracker
November 29 – December 1, 2024
4 performances with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra
Featuring Principal Guest Artists:
Hee Seo from American Ballet Theatre and Tyler Angle from New York City Ballet
They Dance! They Sing!
February 8, 2025 (one night only)
Chamberlain Ballet, Plano Civic Chorus, Richardson Symphony Chamber Orchestra,
Plano Civic Chamber Chorus and Berkner High School’s A Capella Chorus.
Chamberlain Ballet’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, May 3, 2025 (one night only)
Coppelia Act 3, Swan Lake (Act 2) and a new commissioned work by NobleMotion featuring Chamberlain Ballet’s full company in a new and innovative ballet. Guest artists will be announced in January for this special celebration. A not-to-be-missed evening!
“As the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at Chamberlain Ballet, I was particularly drawn to the organization because of the incredible impact of our Shining Stars classes, which bring joy and inclusion to children and adults with special needs. Witnessing their smiles and their excitement as they move to the music is truly heartwarming and inspires me every day. Equally inspiring is our Relevé Program, which opens doors for children at Title 1 schools, giving them the chance to discover the joy of dance and express themselves in ways they may have never imagined before. Our mission is to expand these transformative programs and extend their reach to even more individuals in our community, nurturing creativity, confidence, and connection through the art of dance.” – Missy Shofner
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