“A community based organization focused on developing and defining art education and appreciation of classical ballet, through self discipline, creative expression and performance exposure, in young people of diverse backgrounds.
Ballet On Wheels, Dance School & Company is Memphis’ only non-profit, pre-professional, community based, classical ballet school and dance company founded by an African-American. The school’s mission is to develop and define art education and appreciation of classical ballet and other dance genres, through self discipline, creative expression and performance exposure in young people of diverse backgrounds. Ballet On Wheels aims to provide quality dance instruction and useful resources to allow students to fully reach their pre-professional dance goals. Students receive fundamental instruction in the art form and theory of classical ballet, creative movement, pointe, modern, adult ballet, and hip hop dance genres. In 2002, Ballet On Wheels (BOW) was birthed six months after the untimely death of the Artistic Director’s mentor, Carlton Lee Johnson. Johnson’s inspiration and true commitment to quality instruction and performance flair is very much alive in the organizations current dance culture. Today, the dance school has expanded and includes an official performance company and feeder performance company, for younger dancers. In addition, BOW sponsors annual innovative dance projects and community service dance events throughout the city. The organization’s philosophy of mobile instruction spawned the distinctive name – Ballet On Wheels. Satellite classes are taught in various Memphis City Schools and local youth organizations. The school has an annual dance presentation to highlight and showcase dance technique taught throughout the year. The presentation serves as a stepping stone for overall performance exposure and provides students the opportunity to move into the feeder, Junior Performance Company, and ultimately as a member of the Senior Performance Company. Ballet On Wheels has a professional staff of Instructors with extensive formal training from a variety of dance disciplines. In addition to regular instruction, the school offers Master Class Dance Intensives for Ballet I level students and above, taught by Instructors from major dance companies all across the United States. The School is a member of the National Dance Association, Tennessee Association of Dance and is an affiliate member of Arts Memphis.
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Artistic Director
Chauniece Conner
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-“Igniting a passion in students for music, soul & dance.” |
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Chauniece R. Conner, a native Memphian, launched her classical ballet dance career at the tender age of 8, under the instruction of George Latimer of the now defunct Ballet South/ Tennessee Ballet Company. Her performing credentials with this company include, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, The Red Shoes, Peter and the Wolf, and Cinderella. In 1986, she was selected to perform the title role as “Clara” in The Nutcracker. In an unsurpassed sold out performance, she was the first African-American female dancer throughout the entire Southeastern region of the United States to perform the role of “Clara” within a mixed professional ballet company. In the early 1990’s, she joined the River City Ballet Company as a Principal dancer under the tutelage of world renowned dancer/director/choreographer Carlton Lee Johnson. While studying under Mr. Johnson, she performed title roles in the majority of River City’s performances, including: “Beauty” in Beauty in the Beast, “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz and “Clara” in the Nutcracker. In 2002, Chauniece realized her dream and opened her own classical ballet dance company, Ballet On Wheels, located in Overton Square. She offers beginning and intermediate level ballet classes. Chauniece hopes to continue to cultivate her young students into confident, well-trained classical ballet dancers committed to enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds through the simple art of dance. |
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Board of Directors Doris Boyd, Chauniece Conner, Brian Dobbins, Julie Dockery, Wanda Edwards, Lynn Giggers, Tameka Harrison, Chatoya Hayden, Brian Henderson, Sam King, Kathy Kirk, Jennifer Littlejohn, Justin Murriane, Kindle Nance, Dwilette Pride, Marcus Tate |
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