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.