“Closing the academy was a difficult decision made following a great amount of thoughtful deliberation,” said Denise Halford Holder, president of the RBAI/IBC Board of Directors. “We were committed to ensuring that we had explored any and all possible options to continue operating for our students. We are grateful to our visionary Artistic Director Alyona Yakovleva, our talented teachers and staff, and our supportive parents, donors and sponsors for the generous support they’ve provided during the past five years.”

Since its founding, RBAI had garnered accolades in three of the past four years as “Outstanding School” in the Midwest regional portion of the Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest pre-professional dance competition. Several of the academy’s students received top awards at this year’s Grand Prix competition.

Source: The Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana, Indiana Ballet Company

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Ballet Company Closes its Doors (Inside Indiana Business)

Financial difficulties have forced the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana and Indiana Ballet Co. to cease operations. The two were established in 2006 and served more than 100 students. About eight people, most of whom were part-time instructors, have lost their jobs.

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Indiana Ballet Co.’s final bow (NUVO.net)
Posted by David Hoppe on Fri, Apr 2, 2010 at 2:50 PM

The Indiana Ballet Company and its offshoot, the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana have called it quits. The IBC, founded by former Ballet Internationale artist Alyona Yakovleva and her husband, Russ Smith, following the dissolution of BI in 2005, enjoyed some success with audiences here, most notably their productions of “Phantom of the Opera.” Their last production was a reprise of “Shakespeare in Love.”

But the organization was unable to attract substantial or longterm funding from the community’s most influential ballet patrons. “It is with great regret and deep sorrow that due to the determination that our organization is no longer financially viable, the Board of Directors has elected to close the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana and the Indiana Ballet Company, effective immediately,” wrote Board President Denise Holder.

The small but intense (and affluent) constituency of local arts patrons who believe the city cannot be considered a legitimate arts destination without a professional ballet company may now focus their attention on the fledgling Indianapolis City Ballet project, which was greeted with great enthusiasm at a gala performance of guest artists at the Murat last Fall.

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Local ballet company folds (IBJ.com)

A professional ballet company that formed in the wake of Ballet Internationale’s collapse has closed its own doors.

Indiana Ballet Co. and its affiliated Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana informed its supporters and students in a letter dated March 31 that the combined organization would fold immediately.

“It is with great regret and deep sorrow that due to the determination that our organization is no longer financially viable, the Board of Directors has elected to close the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana and the Indiana Ballet Company, effective immediately,” Board President Denise Holder said in the letter.

The letter was supplied to IBJ by a ballet company supporter. Holder could not reached for comment. The company directed questions to info@indianaballetcompany.com.

Ballet Internationale was the city’s professional ballet company until it folded suddenly in late 2005 after 32 years.

Alyona Yakovleva, who had taught for the Clara R. Noyes Academy of Ballet Internationale, and her husband, Russ Smith, started the new company four years ago. Yakovleva was artistic director, and Smith was executive director. Last year, Smith left the ballet to work with a start-up organization.

Indiana Ballet Co. appears to have struggled to overcome financial liabilities dating to its founding. In her own letter to academy students, Yakovleva said, “the Board and I fully admit the seriousness of the mistakes we made in our founding years.” She went on to add that she hopes to see a new organization started under new leadership.

The Indiana Ballet Company (IBC) thanks all the participants of its recent “Love is….” competition. The winning entries listed below will receive two free tickets to IBC’s performance of “From Shakespeare with Love”, featuring Tim Hardy and the Dragon Scale Consort. For more information call 317-228-1917 or visit IndianaBalletCompany.com.

IBC wishes all its friends a very happy, loving Valentine’s Day.

“Love is… being with the one who means the world to you, whether it’s at the ballet, a game, or just relaxing on the couch.”

-Kyle Carothers

“Love is… a whisper in the lover’s heart; the hiss of the flame that lights the dark; the enchantment that raises passion to art.”

-Marita Topmiller

Alyona Yakovleva, Founding Artistic Director of RBAI and the affiliated Indiana Ballet Company, has had multiple occasions to celebrate as she has observed her students, faculty and school garner awards for “Outstanding School”, “Outstanding Teacher” and “Best Choreographer” over the past four years. “I am really proud of these students and my colleagues,” she declares. “However, I hope Hoosiers will also take pride in, and support what is happening here. Everyone expects great things from far away places and from world-renowned institutions such as Chicago’s Joffrey. But Indiana needs to realize that we have amazing talent and opportunities right here in our own backyard. This is all about Indiana’s youth and future. I am just proud to be here to help, and to watch it unfold.”

RBAI is the official academy of the Indiana Ballet Company. Understanding the foundational role that dance academies have historically played in the establishment of the world’s greatest ballet companies, RBAI seeks to preserve an opportunity for Indiana’s youth while helping to grow the art of tomorrow. Building upon a 300 years-old tradition, RBAI transfers a legacy that has produced some of the most famous ballet dancers, choreographers and teachers of all time, while equipping future citizens with strength, poise, discipline and sensitivity. For more information on its programs visit www.RBAI.biz, www.IndianaBalletCompany.com, or call 317-228-1917.

# # #

Elizabeth Audet
Publicity and Outreach Director
Indiana Ballet Company
Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana
317/216-9539 office
317/627-8645 cell

Tell us what “Love is… _________________”, and you could win free tickets to the IBC Valentine’s weekend performance, ‘From Shakespeare with Love’ in downtown Indianapolis.

Send all entries to love_is@IndianaBalletCompany.com before midnight, February 9th. Entries and the winning result will be posted on IndianaBalletCompany.com/news on February 10th.

Details about the Valentine’s weekend performance, as well as online ticket sales, can be found at IndianaBalletCompany.com/tickets .

By entering, participants grant Indiana Ballet Company permission to reproduce, publish, excerpt, or quote winning entries either wholly or in part for promotional purposes, with attribution.

“For revels, dances, masks and merry hours
Forerun fair Love, strewing her way with flowers.”

- Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act IV Scene iii.

- Diane Timmerman, Professor of Theatre, Butler University

- Dr. Terri Bourus, Professor of English Drama

- Tim Hardy Actor, Director, Faculty Member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic
Arts (RADA) and former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, U.K.

Adult $25
Teen/Senior/Military $20
Child $15
$2.00 surcharge if purchased at door
Single Red Rose complete with Shakespearean romantic message $5 ($1 surcharge for customized message)

For more information call 317-228-1917 or visit www.IndianaBalletCompany.com . Tickets can also be purchased through TicketWeb.com and toll-free at 866-468-3401.

“When you dance, I wish you
A wave o’th’sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that!”

- The Winter’s Tale