Our History
Classical Ballet Theatre—A Brief History
Classical Ballet Theatre was founded by Cynthia Donavin in 1995 as a natural evolution to give performing opportunities to the students of the Classical Ballet Academy. Originally the organization’s mission was to present classical ballet excerpts to the Northern Virginia community. These performances were presented to small audiences in the ballet school’s studios and small local venues.
It was not long before the organization’s scope began to expand in response to community need. The company started presenting “mini-performances” to pre-schools and other audiences both young and old. Productions grew from being merely excerpts to full-length ballets, requiring a theater environment. “Cinderella” and “The Nutcracker” became staples in CBT’s repertoire, along with Act 3 of “The Sleeping Beauty.”
Eminent choreographers from the national dance community were attracted to the opportunity to work with Classical Ballet Theatre’s young and talented dancers. Marjorie Mussman (Joffrey Ballet founding member), Jean Paul Commelin (Paris Opera), Christine O’Neal (American Ballet Theater) are among the prestigious choreographers that have created choreography specifically for CBT.
The public service mission of the organization also expanded to incorporate tribute performances to express appreciation for certain populations of the community, including performances for members of the military and their families, educators and mental health service workers.
The excellent training foundation provided by Classical Ballet Theatre has enabled dancers to move on to professional careers in such companies as San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Richmond Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Smuin Ballet and Martha Graham Ensemble, among others.