Why go
Ballet East offers context for understanding dance as part of East Austin’s community life. Its work has connected local performers with visiting choreographers and paired productions with education. This is a distinct company from Ballet Austin, with a history shaped by neighborhood participation as much as by work on stage.
The full story
Rodolfo Mendez founded Ballet East Dance Company in 1978. From the outset, its mission connected modern dance with access to the arts in East Austin, particularly for residents with fewer financial resources. Hiring and mentoring local talent formed part of that approach, alongside collaboration with choreographers from Austin and elsewhere. The company’s educational history gives substance to that mission. Youth internships introduced stagecraft, while the Dare to Dance after-school program connected students with dance. Other outreach brought public-school students to productions by Ballet East, Ballet Austin and Tapestry Dance Company, with opportunities to meet performers and choreographers. The Ballet East Arts Academy also linked teaching with the company’s artistic work. These programs explain a model in which making dances, training participants and developing audiences supported one another. For a visitor, that history provides useful context when choosing a production; the company’s name should not be read as the name of a fixed theater.
Useful to know
- Confirm the venue and program for the specific production you plan to attend.