New England Ballet Theatre to open new facility this September

This September, New England Ballet Theatre (NEBT) will be opening its own facility in Farmington, CT. The new facility will have three dance studios, office and conference space, a costume shop and storage space, as well as locker rooms for their Company Artists and students. This opportunity allows NEBT to create a home designed specifically to expand and elevate the organization.

Every ballet and show produced by New England Ballet Theatre will be created in their new home. They are thrilled about the opportunities for growth that this space will offer: the expanded costume shop will help uplift the level of NEBT’s productions; the offices will allow NEBT to expand existing and engage in new community partnerships; and The School will be launching a full-time professional training program.

“The opening of this center adds a tremendous asset not only to New England Ballet Theatre, but to our entire arts community,” said Artistic & Executive Director, Rachael Gnatowski. “This moment will literally catapult our company into its next moment in time, and will have a positive rippling effect on the entire Greater Hartford Region.”

New England Ballet Theatre was founded on January 22, 2020 to bring high quality dance performances to communities throughout New England. NEBT is a not-for-profit organization focusing on the development of new choreography and the production of new ballets and shows. 

In addition to providing world class productions, New England Ballet Theatre is dedicated to making dance more accessible to everyone. They strive to develop educational programs with schools and dance studios in the area. In February 2021 they launched The School of New England Ballet Theatre, and it is with this new facility that the school will be launching a pre-professional training program.

One of NEBT’s major accomplishments has been the range of their productions. In their first season, they were able to produce a benefit concert that highlighted survivors of domestic abuse. A portion of all sales went to a local nonprofit, The Interval House, that helps victims and survivors in many ways including providing a safe place to live. Additionally, NEBT has produced 3 original full-length ballets, including an adaption of The Fantastic Toyshop. This year they also produced a show for Women’s Month that celebrated new works created by female identifying choreographers. 

To help fund their new home, NEBT is launching a Building the Future capital campaign. The campaign goal of $75,000 will go towards everything from building walls, to laying state of the art dance floors in the studios. It will also go towards the interpersonal growth that the new facility makes possible, from hiring new Company dancers, to the administrative expenses necessary to launch a pre-professional division through the School of NEBT.

Donations can be made through PayPal on NEBT’s website or by check mailed to P.O. Box 271693 West Hartford, CT 06127.

Details about giving levels and their benefits are available on their campaign site here