The School of MFB, formerly located the Colonnade Shopping Center, has moved to new 4,000-square-foot studio space in Suite C-l at the Courtyard Shopping Center (next to Fast Signs) on the northeast corner of Loop 250 and Midkiff Drive. The new facility includes two studios, a reception and waiting area, two dressing rooms, restrooms and some storage.

A Ribbon Cutting was held on Tuesday, November 17, and an Open House will be scheduled soon for the grand opening of the new studio space.  The lease for the former Coleman Academy, a private dance studio which had become the School of MFB, expired in October. First organized as a nonprofit performing company in 1993, Midland Festival Ballet has grown along with Coleman Academy. After opening her private dance studio in the early 1990s, Judy Coleman served as Artistic Director until Susan Clark was added as Ballet Mistress in 1999 and later named Co-Artistic Director. Several other teachers and guest choreographers have taught for the school over the past two decades and the MFB Company has participated in Regional Dance America/Southwest (RDA/SW) over the past 10 years to further its development.

In the spring of 2007, the MFB Board of Directors identified three goals in its long range planning for the  organization: l) hiring an Executive Director, 2) adding more teachers, and 3) securing additional studio space. The first goal was accomplished in July 2008 with the hiring of Jan St.Hilaire as Executive Director. Midland Festival Ballet also agreed in 2008 to take over Coleman Dance Academy, re-naming it the School of MFB. The second goal was accomplished with Ms. Clark being named Artistic Director and Ms. Coleman assuming the duties of Founding Artistic Director while other teachers – Lauren Curry, Joseph Goodman and Jennifer Runnfeldt – were hired to teach additional classes. Thus, the long time need for more space as a result of scheduling multiple classes while sharing single studio space became top priority this past spring.

Thanks are expressed to John Chapman, David Kleinbeck, Linda McLaughlin, Paul and Judy Lerwick, and Reed Gilmore who served as Facility Committee.

Gifts to MFB, a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, are fully tax-deductible. For information, contact Jan St.Hilaire, Executive Director at 686-0071 or by e-mail at mfb@sbcglobal.net.

Dear Patrons,

Midland Festival Ballet and the School of MFB are planning a move this summer.  It is a move we have contemplated for some time and have considered very carefully.  Such a move comes with an estimated $125,000 price tag.

Midland Festival Ballet accepted responsibility for the School of MFB (formerly Coleman Academy) last summer.  Since then the school has grown both in student numbers and classes offered.  This requires more space than we presently have.

A proposed site has been identified in the Courtyard at Midland Park.  While this site is ready for lease, moving in creates a one time estimated cost of $125,000.

The "Build Out" includes:

• Two studios - One 30' x 60' and a second 30' x 30 '
• Reception and waiting area
• Dressing rooms
• Bathrooms
• Mirrors and Barres for each studio
• Marley 'Sprung' Wood studio flooring

In announcing this move we are asking for your help.  Would you please consider making a generous gift at one of the following levels?

• $25,000 each for Studio A & B (with naming rights considered)
• $15,000 for each two floors
• $10,000 for each two restrooms
• $5,000 for each two dressing rooms
• $2,500 for reception area, mirrors and barres
• $1,000 for general support

As an IRS 501(c)3 organization, contributions to MFB and the School of MFB for the capital costs are fully tax deductible.   Click here to make your donation.

Thank you,

David Kleinbeck, President

Spring is here and with the season change so will Midland Festival Ballet. The organization is faced with challenges of many types, including opportunities for growth. The Board of Directors approved my attendance at the Regional Dance America/Southwest in Sugar Land with my own private tour guide – Past President and Fundraising Vice President Lael Cordes-Pitts. My skills do not include the knowledge of Classical Ballet and Lael assisted in my education. During those four days I was in awe of MFB’s Company and Apprentice Members who attended the Festival.

I concluded that our MFB Company and Apprentices are on par with larger companies throughout the Southwest. The opportunities and education that Susan Clark, Artistic Director, and Judy Coleman, Founding Director of Midland Festival Ballet, provide are outstanding!

The status of our Company being raised to “Gala” is to be applauded by all involved with MFB! The parents/volunteers who accompanied our MFB Company members and Apprentices are to be commended equally! The crew included Leslie Smith, Trip Coordinator, Anna Adair, Debbie Chapman, LuAnn

Gilmore, Vicki Kerr, Judy Lerwick, and Shelly Hickman-Wright.

Regional Dance America/Southwest has shown us where Midland Festival Ballet has been, celebrated our organization’s development and provided insight on ways to achieve for the future. By Fall 2009, planning of instructors, facilities, performances and volunteers for the upcoming season will allow continued growth and directions.

To the Pointe,
Jan St.Hilaire, Executive Director

Joanie Holt, Midland Festival Ballet’s 2008-09 Honorary Sponsor Chair, will be honored at a reception following the Saturday, April 25, performance in the McCormick Gallery of Allison Fine Arts Center at Midland College. Thanks to Joanie for lending her support to MFB’s 15th anniversary season.

The 15th annual performances of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” were held December 13 and December 14 at Lee High School Auditorium. Both performances were nearly sold out with more than 2,000 total attendees.

Guest artists were Amy Fote and Nicholas Leschke, Principal Dancers with Houston Ballet, dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Johnny Simons returned as Herr Drosselmeyer; Christopher Fellows danced as Snow Prince and Arabian, and Joseph Goodman as Soldier Doll and Candy Cane Soloist. More than 100 local performers of all ages danced beautifully, accompanied by the Midland-Odessa Symphony conducted by Diane Hilbert.

Complimentary tickets were provided to local service agencies including Casa de Amigos, High Sky Children’s Ranch, Midland Fair Havens, Midland Association for Retarded Citizens (MARC) and Safe Place of the Permian Basin. THANK YOU TO ALL PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED ON THE COMMITTEES TO SUPPORT THE PERFORMANCES!

THANKS also to all the studios whose students performed in “The Nutcracker” for 2008: Absolute Dance, Art and Soul, Bingham Dance Center, Dance Connection, Dee-Ann Studio of Dance, Gym Buddies, Legacy Elite Athletics, The Dance Gallery, and the School of Midland Festival Ballet.

Midland Festival Ballet expresses appreciation to the Big Spring Symphony conducted by Dr. Keith Graumann for the opportunity to perform “The Nutcracker” on December 20 in the Big Spring Municipal Auditorium. Guest artists included Erin Rivera-Brennand as Sugar Plum Fairy, Courtney Palomo as Cavalier, Christopher Fellows as Snow Prince and Arabian, and Joseph Goodman as Soldier Doll and Candy Cane Soloist. Johnny Simons of Fort Worth performed as Herr Drosselmeyer.

Thanks to the many MFB and Big Spring Symphony Guild volunteers who assisted with the performance.

MFB performed Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf ” as an arts education program for over 2,000 Midland ISD third grade students at 9 a.m. and l:15 p.m. in the Midland High Auditorium on Friday, February 20, and for the general public at 7:30 p.m. that same evening. The performances were this year’s selection for “A Festival Fairytale,” the second production of the 2008-09 fifteenth anniversary season. “The programs allow students – some who have never had the opportunity – to experience the arts,” said Deb Shaw, Midland ISD Director of Fine Arts and MFB Board of Directors member. “We are happy the opportunity was available for our students.”

Performing in the role of Peter was guest artist, Joseph Goodman. Company Members danced the following roles: Bird - Louisa Chapman; Cat - Meagan Smith; Duck – Pearl Pierce; Wolf - Kinder McCullough; Head Hunter - Stefany Brown; Hunters - Emily Abalos, Ruthanne Kerr, Lauren Laughlin, Victoria Orta, and Jennifer Runnfeldt; and Grandfather - Bob Cowdery.

“MFB was pleased to present the classical ballet to the students and show how music is an integral part of ballet,” said Judy Coleman, Founding Director. The evening performance was followed by a reception in the MHS Bulldog Room with refreshments and an opportunity to take pictures with the characters. Thanks to Deanna Keese of Keese Photography for taking photos of the children with their chosen characters.