The North Star Ballet was established in Fairbanks in 1981 to promote the art of ballet in Interior Alaska by providing educational opportunities that assure a solid foundation of training for young dancers, increasing public awareness and appreciation of dance and supporting a company of dancers that produces high quality performances.
North Star Ballet now owns and is located in the Artisan’s Courtyard on College Road.
The organization’s mission is supported by a strong artistic vison. Ballet is an art form steeped in three centuries of tradition and much of the work centers on preserving those traditions. But they also provide performances that reflect the current pulses of the dance world. By collaborating with local arts organizations and bringing professionals dancers from Outside, students and audience members get a chance to experience new and vital work.
The school holds two 17-week semesters providing ballet classes for children 8 years and older in a structured 8-year syllabus. For children 4-8 years old there is an outstanding Creative Movement program that introduces the fundamentals of music and dance. The school also offers a variety of ballet and contemporary dance for older teens and adults.
In the summer, Creative Dance Camps are available for children up to 8 years old and a Summer Intensive is offered to more advanced students.
There is also a complete Pilates studio with equipment and certified instructors for apparatus, matt classes and classes for people with limited mobility.
The North Star Ballet Company presents four public performances of The Nutcracker, set for Dec. 1-3, 2017 at the Hering Auditorium.
Partnerships and collaborations are essential to our operations and to our vision of promoting dance in the Interior,” said Anne Ruggles, executive director. “We work with other organizations by providing equipment, costumes, dance expertise and dancers where needed. Our artistic director volunteers as the stage manager for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival’s dance performances. We also collaborate on programming and master classes with the Fairbanks Concert Association and provide dancers and choreography for Opera Fairbanks. These collaborations meaningfully enhance the performance opportunities available to Interior artists and audiences.”
Courtland Weaver, the ballet’s artistic director, said KUAC is the only radio station he listens to. “I’m so impressed by the local support for the arts and KUAC is the focus of that. When things happen in our community, they pass through KUAC. It’s a community center for all of us.”
Visit nsbfairbanks.org for more information.
