ABOUT CNYB
OUR MISSION
Central New York Ballet is an artist-centered, inclusive professional ballet company dedicated to uncompromising artistic excellence that changes lives through dance. CNYB is the region’s premier classical ballet company creating world-class art. CNYB inspires its audiences with brilliant dance, gives artists more control over their creative lives, and brings ballet to underserved communities. CNYB provides free tickets to all in need and presents classical and contemporary repertoire in theaters, nursing homes, libraries, public schools, and other community venues. CNYB mentors student artists and joins with local and regional artists to create rich, dynamic art.
CNYB's artistic director, artistic adviser, choreographers, and dancers are distinguished artists whose careers span elite ballet institutions, Broadway stages, and national Broadway tours. They bring a wealth of professional experience and artistic vision and are uniquely positioned to develop high caliber programming to captivate and inspire audiences. CNY Ballet also has significant relationships with community partners both in Central New York and nationally who help support and implement CNY Ballet’s dynamic programming.
ARTIST CENTERED
We are creating a more artist centered company that lets artists have more influence over the critical decisions that shape the organizations where we work, so we can continue to bring the joy and beauty of dance to the audience and help others do the same. CNYB was founded to create a new way of managing a ballet company that incorporates diverse voices and gives artists a seat at the decision-making table. Many ballet dancers in the U.S. work long hours and barely make ends meet, but that does not mean they need to fear reprisals if they speak up for better working conditions and competent artistic leadership.
CNYB has created governance tools to change the imbalance of power between management and dancers and give dancers more influence over the decisions shaping their creative lives. CNYB dancers elect two dancer representatives to the board to keep the board informed of dancer issues and creative ideas and vice versa. Dancer reps have the right to call board meetings, attend all meetings, and present proposals on which the board must vote. The dancers selected the artistic leader for the company’s inaugural 2024 season.
OUR VALUES
· Reflecting The Whole Community ·
We create an environment of mutual respect and trust in which artists are free to take risks and dream big.
Among the many principles that bond CNYB artists is their passion to bring their craft to as many members of the community as possible. We strive to make dance accessible to all members of the Central New York Community regardless of means. From its founding, CNYB has made free tickets available to all in need.
· Collaboration ·
We are creating bonds with individuals and arts institutions to help to build a vibrant artistic community. Within the company, we understand the importance of every piece of the chain to guarantee success.
· Integrity ·
We respect and trust our coworkers, artists, board, staff, student artists, community, and patrons.
The teams we create encourage the best of dance as an art form.
· Excellence ·
We nurture artistic experiences and education with a wildly creative environment that instills passion, curiosity, and hard work.
Interested In Supporting CNY Ballet?
Please consider making a tax-exempt donation to help continue building this dream.
Any amount helps and goes directly to paying the dancers, providing high quality training,
supplying pointe shoes, and countless other elements that go into making the
quality art the community deserves.