Fostering a love of dance requires creativity to advance the art form. Covenant Ballet Theatre has done this is by offering students a more meaningful performance opportunity than the standard recital. Students gain valuable dance performance, acting and stagecraft skills dancing beside professionals within this larger theatrical context.
Over the past three decades, Artistic Director Marla Hirokawa has created 17 original narrative ballets that feature a gamut of roles to accommodate the varied technical skills of students, faculty and guest artists, several of which are historic in content. Students are exposed to folklore and ballet traditions as well as historical accounts such as Orphan Train, a tribute to the founder of the New York Children’s Aid Society, and Nisei which is a tribute in memory of Marla’s father and of World War II Japanese-American veterans.
"Since CBT’s doors opened in 1987, it has been a central part of our mission to provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop their potential, both on and off the stage." - Marla Hirokawa, Founder and Artistic Director
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"I consider Ms. Hirokawa to be a master teacher, storyteller and choreographer whose work should be supported in the rehearsal studio, in the public schools and on the stage.” - Michelle Audet, former executive director, Dance New Amsterdam
