Mission:   

Arkansas Festival Ballet promotes, presents, and enhances the art of Classical Ballet through quality performances and dance programming.

History:

Established in 2000 as an extension of the ballet tradition founded by the late Lorraine Cranford, AFB was founded to develop high caliber training and performance opportunities for dancers throughout the state, and to provide dancers and audiences with a wide range of classical ballet and related dance repertoire.

With goals of contributing to the cultural richness of the region and enhancing exposure to live performances, AFB is committed to seasonal programming that appeals to both children and adults. AFB performs full-length storybook and fairytale ballets that combine the best of dance, music, sets and costumes for an enchanting theater experience.  Mixed bill productions feature shorter, often thematic works, with fresh, new choreography, including modern dance, as well as excerpts from beloved ballet classics.

Performance repertoire has included Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Red Shoes, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Fairy Doll, Les Patineurs, The Nutcracker, and Coppelia. 

AFB is a performing member of Regional Dance America (RDA)/Southwest. Membership is based on a rigorous audition process with emphasis on dance technique and artistry. Twenty-four companies from Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana are members of RDA/Southwest. Participation in RDA provides valuable performance, training, and collaborative opportunities for dancers, teachers and choreographers at a multi-state regional level. Visit the Regional Dance America homepage here.