Plano Metropolitan Ballet (PMB) was founded in 1987. At that time, the company’s main purpose was simply to provide young dancers with the opportunity to perform. Today the mission statement expands upon the original intent to include the desire to provide affordable, high-quality dance to the local community while instilling a love of dance in its company members. Plano Met has been under the artistic direction of Cindi Lawrence Hanson since 1998.
Plano Met has grown to over 45 members today. Through yearly auditions, dedicated dancers ages 10 to 18 are given the opportunity to join PMB.
Since 1989 Plano Met has produced an original, storybook ballet each year by bringing a fairy tale to life on stage through dance. Each production, which often sells out at every performance, offers classical ballet and familiar music along with a bit of comedy, evil, and magic to tell the story. Early performances were held at the John Anthony Theatre of Collin College, the ArtCentre Theatre of Plano, and Plano and Plano East Senior High Schools. When Plano’s Courtyard Theater opened, PMB was one of the charter artistic groups to perform there, and the company remains at this venue today.
In 2003, PMB founded and began sponsoring the Plano Dance Festival, held annually at the Courtyard Theater. With this event, a dance tradition began, by providing a venue where, by invitation only, local professional and student dancers from the Plano and North Texas areas can showcase their talent on the same stage in a non-competitive environment. Audiences can look forward to a unique mix of classical and modern ballet and pointe as well as tap, jazz, and modern dance styles.
In 2006 the Junior Company division of Plano Metropolitan Ballet was formed. Developed for dancers ages eight to 12 with a strong interest in pursuing ballet, Junior Company members must audition in order to join. Performance opportunities include the Plano Dance Festival each year, and in May, Junior Company opens the Gotta Dance intermediate recital with a short fairy-tale ballet. Today’s Junior Company includes a membership of nearly 40 dancers.
Plano Met has participated in events in and around Plano and North Texas, performing at Brookhaven College, Southfork, Haggard Park, Heritage Farmstead, Dance for the Planet, Plano Arts Festival, Allen Dance Festival, the Eisemann Center, area retirement homes and local schools. Plano Met dancers traditionally open the Gotta Dance spring recitals each year.
The first annual Plano Met Gala was held in 2007 in celebration of Plano Metropolitan Ballet’s twentieth anniversary. This annual event is PMB’s largest fundraiser and has quickly become a favorite PMB tradition.
In addition to ballet and pointe classes, Plano Met and Junior Company dancers each attend weekly company rehearsals. PMB dancers receive inspiration from visiting master instructors, guest artists, and the company’s own dedicated choreographers. Plano Metropolitan Ballet dancers study and train at Gotta Dance.
Plano Metropolitan Ballet Original Productions:
- 2009 Annie, the Orphan
- 2008 The Story of Tinkerbelle
- 2007 Sleeping Beauty
- 2006 Beauty and the Beast
- 2005 Cinderella
- 2004 Snow White
- 2003 The Little Mermaid
- 2002 Alice in Wonderland
- 2001 Wizard of Oz
- 2000 Peter Pan
- 1999 Anastasia
- 1998 Cinderella
- 1997 Sleeping Beauty
- 1996 Legend of the Blue Bonnet
- 1995 Snow Maiden
- 1994 Snow Maiden
- 1993 Snow Maiden
- 1991 Hansel and Gretel
- 1990 Hansel and Gretel
- 1989 Snow White
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Overview