Barre-Setting

Manassas dancer is striving toward a new standard in staging leaps and bounds

By Devorah Ben-David

Members of Manassas Ballet Theatre on pointe in their 2008 production of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Manassas resident Amy Grant Wolfe used to battle rush-hour traffic in order to take professional dance classes in Washington, D.C. But it was the lengthy commute time that inspired her to split her efforts and double up as a dancer and businesswoman.

Wolfe was a ballet dancer and teacher for the Manassas School of Dance and the Manassas Dance Company. But in 1997 she approached her director about turning the Manassas Dance Company into a professional ballet company. Wolfe had identified a niche artistic need in the community, and the idea was backed with support.

“I had this initial vision that turned into a 24-7 thing because of all the work that had to be done,” Wolfe said.

Through various incarnations, the school and company became one entity in the fall of 2007. The Manassas Dance Company was renamed the Manassas Ballet Theatre, and the Manassas School of Dance became the Manassas Ballet Academy.

2007’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

“When I became the owner and director of the school, I very much wanted it to be where Russian methodology was taught,” said Wolfe, who also provides free educational outreach programs to more than 10,000 students annually. “I also included the word ‘theatre’ in the … name because we use live music with all the shows and often use actors as well.”

On Wolfe’s innovative March menu of smaller performances is a ballet entitled “From Mozart to Menza,” which is set to jazz music. Wolfe’s classical dance company has grown to 12 full-time dancers, ranging in age from 20 to 50.

“Due to the size of the company, I have been given the opportunity to challenge myself with corps as well as soloist roles,” company dancer Heather Hebda said. “This has helped me to develop as an artist.”

Wolfe is in the process of planning the move to their own theater in the $56 million Hylton Performing Arts Center, which will be completed in 2010.

“There are a lot of beautiful dancers here in America, but not as many ballet companies that will hire them,” Wolfe said. “Nobody wants to waste time and money these days, and they don’t have to. Not when they can treat themselves, and their children, to a total of four beautiful, professional ballet productions each season in their own backyard.”

For more information, or for a 2008-2009 season schedule, visit Manassas Ballet Theatre online at www.manassaballet.org.

(February 2009)

Tags: ballet, Dance, Lights