News & Events

Annual Appeal Challenge

New Haven Ballet Is Starting the Fall with a Challenge!

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Suddenly it’s fall. The leaves are turning color, the air has a new crispness, Nutcracker rehearsals are in full swing—and New Haven Ballet has a challenge for you.

As we launch our annual appeal, a generous donor has offered a $5,000 matching challenge grant. For every dollar that is donated between now and October 31 up to $5,000, NHB will receive two dollars. Your gift of $20, $25, $50, $100—any amount—will be doubled.

That’s twice as much support for the programs that are so important to you. Twice as much to help NHB offer the finest pre-professional ballet training in the Greater New Haven area and beyond. Twice as much to enable students of every age, ability, and level of interest to experience the joy of dance with superb teachers. Twice as much to allow NHB to reach out to our community with programs such as DanceAir, which offers ballet training and scholarships to underserved elementary-school children in Greater New Haven, and Shared Ability, which pairs differently abled students with core NHB students for an experience that enriches both.Tuition covers only a fraction of the costs of these programs, so NHB relies on the support of its generous donors. This year, your support can go twice as far.

Won’t you please rise to the challenge?

Thank you for your generous support!

My very best wishes,

Lisa Sanborn, Artistic Director

Nutcracker Auditions

NEW HAVEN, CT, September 12, 2019 – New Haven Ballet is looking for boys and girls ages 5 to 19 years (Kindergarten through High School Senior) who wish to enroll in classes and perform in The Nutcracker at the Shubert Theatre New Haven. To audition for The Nutcracker boys and girls must be registered for classes at New Haven Ballet.

Auditions are scheduled for September 21-22, 2019. This is an amazing performance opportunity. New Haven Ballet’s The Nutcracker will perform at the historic Shubert Theatre New Haven on Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Eligibility: To audition students must be enrolled in CB2 or higher at New Haven Ballet and have submitted an audition registration form and applicable fee.

Audition Dates/Times (Please arrive on time):

Saturday, September 21, 2019 —

Boys Primary-Level 6: 1:45-2:30 p.m.

Girls (en pointe) Level 6/7/8: 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Girls Level 5: 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 22, 2019 —

Girls Level 3/4: 12:00-1:15 p.m.

Girls Level 1/2: 12:45-1:45 p.m.

Boys & Girls CB2/Primary: 1:15-2:15 p.m.

Girls Primary: 1:15-2:15 p.m.

Widely regarded as the standard for classical ballet training throughout the greater New Haven region, New Haven Ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which offers classes to students, ages 3 years to adult in Bethany, Branford and New Haven. New Haven Ballet’s programs are made possible in part by the generosity of New Haven Ballet’s devoted patrons and supporters, including: State of Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development, Office of the Arts, City of New Haven Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, National Endowment for the Arts, Ethel & Abe Lapides Foundation, Theresa Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, United Illuminating, Lighting Up the Arts, The Frankel Foundation, and Bank of America.

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If you would like more information about registering for classes at New Haven Ballet and auditioning for The Nutcracker please call Ruth Barker at tel. 203-782-9038 or email: administrator@newhavenballet.org.

Laura Manzella Joins Faculty

Laura Manzella received her MFA in Choreography from Sarah Lawrence College and her BFA from The Boston Conservatory. Originally from Connecticut, she began her formal training at The School of Hartford Ballet. She danced with Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre, Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Co, Ballet New England, and Kathy Westwater, among others. Her choreographic, film, and collaborative work has been presented at several venues throughout NYC and beyond. In October 2019 she will co-present at the 2019 NDEO conference, The Creative Process: Choreography, Choice-Making, and Communication. Ms. Manzella is currently a faculty member at ACES/Educational Center of the Arts in New Haven and will join the faculty of New Haven Ballet in September 2019.

Kaitlyn Gilliland Joins Faculty

Kaitlyn Gilliland began her dance training at the Minnesota Dance Theatre and continued her studies at the School of American Ballet, where she received the Mae L. Wien Award for outstanding promise in 2004. From 2006 to 2011, Ms. Gilliland performed corps, soloist, and principal roles with the company and was named the New York City Ballet’s Janice Levin Dancer Honoree for 2009­-2010. Following her departure from NYCB, Ms. Gilliland appeared with several New York City-­based dance companies, joining Twyla Tharp for her 2015 50th Anniversary National Tour and two subsequent performance seasons and Benjamin Millepied’s L.A. Dance Project for their 2017-2018 season. Ms. Gilliland served on the faculty of the School of American Ballet and as an instructor for The New York City Public School for Dance (The Ballet Tech School). In May of 2015, she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University with a degree in Psychology. She is currently an MBA candidate at the Yale School of Management and Program Director for Minnesota Dance Theatre’s CAN Dance Education Program. Ms. Gilliland will join the faculty of New Haven Ballet in September 2019.

NHB in Bethany

Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn is thrilled to announce New Haven Ballet (NHB) will offer classes in the Town of Bethany at Willow Tree Montessori School. Located at 171 Amity Road in Bethany, the new studio will feature a large dance space with marley-type vinyl flooring, natural light, and ample parking. Classes in Bethany begin September 4. 

Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn notes, “As new members of Bethany’s community, we are excited to partner with Willow Tree Montessori School. This new studio will enable NHB to better serve New Haven, Orange, Woodbridge, Bethany and surrounding communities. We look forward to this wonderful opportunity and meeting our neighbors. We hope this partnership leads to additional classes, performances and other occasions to support high quality arts education and offerings in the community. We invite and hope you will join us!”

Through September 30 new students ages 3-18 may take a FREE class at any of our studio locations in Bethany, Branford or New Haven; fall registration is open (www.newhavenballet.org). 

Nutcracker Audition 2019

NHB students enrolled in fall 2019 classes in levels Creative Ballet 2 through Level 8 are encouraged to Audition for The Nutcracker!

Everyone who auditions for The Nutcracker gets a part.

Who: NHB CB2-Level 8 Students

What: Nutcracker Audition

Where: 70 Audubon Street, New Haven

When: Boys (Primary through Level 8) Saturday, September 21; Girls (Level 5-8) Saturday, September 21; Boys and Girls Level CB2 – Level 4, Sunday, September 22

The Nutcracker will perform at the historic Shubert Theatre New Haven. Children’s Matinee: Friday, December 13, 2019 — 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. Public Performances: Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2019 — 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

To register for The Nutcracker Audition call: 203-782-9038 or email: administrator@newhavenballet.org

Fall Registration Open

Register for fall 2019 classes today!

Fall 2019 classes begin Tuesday, September 3.
New students ages 3 to 18 years (Children’s and Student Division Classes) are eligible for a FREE trial class through September 30. Space is limited. Call to reserve your FREE trial class.
For registration and schedule information:
https://newhavenballet.org/fall-registration-open/
Or call: 203-782-9038Email: administrator@newhavenballet.org

Click Here for Fall 2019 Schedule

Click Here to Register

Click Here for Handbook

Click Here for Dress Code

Peter Rabbit on the Branford Green

New Haven Ballet’s Branford Green Performance will include:

BRANFORD, CT, June 25, 2019 – Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn is thrilled to announce New Haven Ballet will perform on the Branford Green, Saturday, June 29, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. This performance is FREE and open to the public. Audience members are encouraged to bring a folding chair or blanket. And if it rains, New Haven Ballet will still perform with the performance being moved to the Branford Armory, 87 Montowese Avenue, Branford.

The Sleeping Beauty

First presented in 1890 at the Mariinksy Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Sleeping Beauty ballet features music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography after Marius Petipa. Performed by leading ballet companies around the world, New Haven Ballet will present The Sleeping Beauty Prologue: The Christening, in which the Fairies of the Kingdom have been invited to the christening of Princess Aurora. Each of the fairies bestows on the princess a special gift by way of a dance.

Peter Rabbit

Premiering at the Shubert Theatre New Haven on May 18, 2019, this charming children’s ballet brings to life the delightful characters from Beatrix Potter’s beloved stories of Peter Rabbit. You will meet Peter, a young bunny who forages for vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s garden (much to Mr. McGregor’s dismay), and makes friends with Miss Potter (Mr. McGregor’s lovely neighbor), in addition to many forest dwellers. After Mr. McGregor suffers an injury, he has a vision in which Peter befriends and guides him home with the help of forest animals.

Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn notes, “As relatively new members of Branford’s community (studios are located at Exit 56 on I-95), we are excited to partner with the Town and contribute to the presence of dance as an accessible public art in Branford. New Haven Ballet has many dancers who reside in Branford and adjacent Shoreline communities. We look forward to this wonderful performance opportunity and meeting our Branford neighbors. We invite and hope you will join us!”

Widely regarded as the standard for classical ballet training throughout the greater New Haven region, New Haven Ballet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which offers classes to students, ages 3 years to adult in Branford and New Haven. This performance is made possible in part by the generosity of New Haven Ballet’s devoted patrons and supporters, including: State of Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development, Office of the Arts, City of New Haven Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, National Endowment for the Arts, Ethel & Abe Lapides Foundation, Theresa Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, United Illuminating, Lighting Up the Arts, The Frankel Foundation, and Bank of America. The Ballet also acknowledges the generosity of the Town of Branford, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Nardella’s Music Company.

New Haven Ballet Presents:

The Sleeping Beauty and Peter Rabbit on the Branford Green

Saturday, June 29, 2019

6:00 – 7:15 p.m.

Branford Green (Rain Venue: Branford Armory)

FREE performance. Bring a folding chair or blanket on which to sit and enjoy the show!

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If you would like more information about this performance or New Haven Ballet please call Ruth Barker at tel. 203-782-9038 or email: administrator@newhavenballet.org.

Sean Suozzi Master Class

We are delighted to announce that Mr. Sean Suozzi, New York City Ballet Soloist, will teach a Classical Ballet Master Class:

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Levels 5-8

Danspace, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven

Fee: $20

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Sean Suozzi Bio

Sean Suozzi was born in Glen Cove, New York, and began his dance training at the age of seven with Joyce DiLauro. Mr. Suozzi trained for four years at the Nutmeg Ballet in Torrington, Connecticut with Sharon Dante, Joan Kunsch, Eleanor D’Antuono, Alexei Tchernichov, and Kevin Martin. After attending the 1997 summer session at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, Mr. Suozzi was invited to continue his studies in the SAB winter session as a scholarship student. At SAB, he studied with Stanley Williams, Andrei Kramarevsky, Peter Boal, Jock Soto, and Susan Pilarre, among other SAB teachers. Mr. Suozzi was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in April 1999 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2000. In May 2007, Mr. Suozzi was promoted to soloist.

Branford Green Performance

Artistic Director, Lisa Sanborn, is excited to announce that New Haven Ballet will perform on the Branford Green, Saturday, June 29, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. This performance is FREE and open to the public!

The performance will include:

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty ballet was adapted from the 1697 Charles Perrault tale, “The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood.” Tchaikovsky wrote the music and long time collaborator, Marius Petipa, choreographed the dances. It was first presented at the Mariinksy Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on January 15, 1890. While received favorably, especially when compared with Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, Swan Lake, it was not a resounding success. Today these dances have grown measurably in popularity and are performed by leading ballet companies around the world.

New Haven Ballet Company will perform The Sleeping Beauty Prologue: The Christening, in which the Fairies of the kingdom have been invited to be present at the christening of Princess Aurora. Each of the fairies bestows on the princess a special gift by way of a dance.

Peter Rabbit

New Haven Ballet premiered Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn’s all-new children’s ballet, Peter Rabbit, at the Shubert Theatre New Haven on May 18, 2019. This charming children’s ballet brings to life the delightful characters from Beatrix Potter’s beloved stories of Peter Rabbit. You will meet Peter, a young bunny who forages for vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s garden (much to Mr. McGregor’s dismay), and makes friends with Miss Potter (Mr. McGregor’s lovely neighbor), in addition to many forest dwellers. After Mr. McGregor suffers an injury, he has a vision in which Peter befriends and guides him home with the help of forest animals.

Attention NHB Performers:  

Branford Green Rehearsal Sched. Week of 6/18/19 

Branford Green Rehearsal Sched. Week of 6/24/19 

International Festival of Arts & Ideas

New Haven Ballet company will perform at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. on the New Haven Green Main Stage in downtown New Haven, Connecticut. The performance will feature excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty. Admittance is FREE and open to the public.

We hope you will join us!