Dancer Leah Morris of Ballet Arkansas – photo by Melissa Dooley Photography for Ballet Arkansas

October is Arts and Humanities Month nationally and in Little Rock. Americans for the Arts has identified a different arts topic to be posted for each day in the month.  Next up is Dance.

Ballet Arkansas, the state’s professional ballet company, is celebrating its 41st season this year. It grew out of ballet efforts which started in the 1960s at the Arkansas Arts Center and also the Little Rock Civic Ballet.

Artistic/Executive Director Michael Fothergill and Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing Catherine Garratt Fothergill are in their third season leading Ballet Arkansas.  The company of professional dancers has increased this year to fifteen. They are: Hannah Bradshaw, Lauren Hill, Kaley Kirkman, Matthew Larson, Toby Lewellen, Meredith Loy, Leah Morris, Amanda Sewell, Deanna Stanton, Megan Hustel Tillman, Paul Tillman, Isabelle Urben, Aldrin Vendt, Zeek Wright, and Lauren Yordanich.

In addition to performing numerous productions throughout the state, Ballet Arkansas has a heavy schedule of visiting schools as well as healthcare and social service agencies such as Arkansas Children’s Hospital and United Cerebral Palsy.

The company completed Sleepy Hollow this past weekend and is gearing up for Debut on November 8 and 9.  It will feature works created by company members Deanna Stanton, Hannah Bradshaw, Meredith Loy, Paul Tillman, and Matt Larson.