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      • Mission
      • History
      • Outreach

      • About

        Colton Ballet Company is the dynamic vision of Ron and Zanne Colton, Bon Ellis and a host of devoted volunteers and parents. Developed after decades of meticulous direction and instruction in the art of dance, Colton Ballet Company opened its first season in 2006 with the beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, which has enthralled audiences for more than 40 years.

        In addition to Augusta’s favorite, The Nutcracker, Colton Ballet Company presents seasons of professional dance through inspired classics and innovative premiere works.

        As Colton Ballet Company enhances its legacy as Augusta’s enduring dance company, there is a heightened energy and desire to provide the best and brightest expression of dance in our community. Colton Ballet Company not only opens the stage door for its fresh and inspired, finely trained troupe of young dancers from the Colton Ballet School, but also shines the spotlight on former dancers pursuing professional careers in dance as they return to share the stage, bringing the best in dance to Augusta.

        Colton Ballet Company relies on the generous support of our community to help create productions of the highest artistic quality while featuring local dancers, visual artists, musicians, costumers, set designers and technicians, as well as nationally recognized guest artists and choreographers.

        Outreach Mission

      • Mission

        The mission of Colton Ballet Company is to provide professional quality dance performances for the community, encouraging and enhancing a greater public awareness and appreciation for dance as an art form.

        Colton Ballet Company is the official company of the Colton Ballet School. Colton Ballet Company and the Colton Ballet School are no longer affiliated with Augusta Ballet, Inc.

        About History

      • History

        Ron Colton, a former member of George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet when The Nutcracker was first produced in 1953, brought the beloved classic to Augusta in 1971. Good friend and colleague Robert Barnett, then Artistic Director of the Atlanta Ballet, staged Augusta’s first production. The Atlanta Ballet danced the soloist roles and provided the sets and costumes in those early years. Since that time, hundreds of children and adults have been a part of The Nutcracker both on stage and off. There are now two generations of dancers who make The Nutcracker a part of their lives every fall. Each year, thousands of families are magically transported to the Land of the Sweets to behold little Clara’s dream of The Nutcracker.

        In years past, Colton Ballet Company has presented classical works including Les Sylphides, Swan Lake Act II, Giselle Act II, and Don Quixote Pas de Deux. The company has presented works by renowned choreographers such as Peter Powlus, Jill Bahr, Victoria Uris, Andrew Kuharsky, Anthony Ferro, Stanley Zompakos, Valerie Greig, Jack Yantis, McCormack and Eduard Forehand.

        Mission Outreach

      • Outreach

        In 2008, Colton Ballet Company directed its community outreach focus on Richmond County Title One schools, where the largest proportion of the student body lives below the poverty level and have very little exposure to the arts. Under the expertise of Outreach Coordinator, Tammy Westafer, twenty-five schools were approached with a special offer to bring their students into the theatre to see Act II of The Nutcracker.

        Through a partnership with The Art Factory, Colton Ballet Company received grant funding to offer special matinee performances to these schools at no cost and provide transportation. Prior to seeing the performance, members of Colton Ballet Company visited the schools to read The Nutcracker story and present their teachers with lesson plans.

        Based on the enthusiastic response from students and teachers, Colton Ballet Company has been able to expand its community outreach efforts to also include all Title One schools in Aiken, Burke and McDuffie counties. In recent years, the outreach program extended its audience to include local senior citizens as well as The Boys and Girls Club of Augusta, Safe Homes of Augusta, Child Enrichment, Heritage Academy, Lynndale, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.

        Colton Ballet Company is thrilled to be able to share the magic of dance to a growing audience that focuses on the socioeconomic diversity within our community.

        History About

    • People

      • ZanneColton

        Zanne Colton

        Artistic Director
      • BonEllis

        Bon Ellis

        Ballet Mistress & Business Administrator
      • DAUG.People_RonColton

        Ron Colton

        Director Emeritus
      • TammyWestafer

        Tammy Westafer

        Development Director
      • DAUG.People_JulieAvrett

        Julie Avrett

        Graphic Designer
      • ROZ

        Rosalind Avrett

        Wardrobe Mistress

    • News / Events

      • Ron Colton teaching ballet

        Our New Name: Colton Ballet Company

        Posted on September 21, 2016August 16, 2018 by Michael Martin

        Effective September 22, 2016, Dance Augusta and Augusta Ballet School will be named Colton Ballet Company of Augusta and Colton Ballet School of Augusta. Both entities are officially listed as Dance Augusta DBA Colton Ballet Company and Augusta Ballet School DBA Colton Ballet School. The status of both (profit/non-profit) remain unchanged as does the artistic direction.

        This change reflects the deep commitment of both organizations to reflect and honor the legacy of Founder, Ron Colton.

        This entry was posted in News / Events. Bookmark the permalink.

    • Members

      • Board of Directors

        Posted on November 11, 2014August 17, 2018 by danceadmin

        Zanne Colton, President & Founding Artistic Director
        Director, Colton Ballet School
        Bon Ellis, Founding Member, Ballet Mistress & Business Administrator
        Business Administrator, Colton Ballet School
        Tammy Adams Westafer, Development Director
        Colton Ballet Company
        Patricia Sheehan Beck
        Owner, Sheehan’s Irish Pub and Becks
        Robert J. Lowe, Jr., Secretary & Treasurer
        COO/Chief Legal Counsel, Snelling Properties, LLP
        MaryAnne Daby Mitchell, Outreach Coordinator
        Educator, Our Lady of Peace School
        Julie Hayes Avrett, Graphic Designer
        Artist
        Rosalind Avrett Jones, Graphic Designer
        Ballet Instructor, Colton Ballet School
        Carolyn Higgins Chester RT (R) ARRT
        Radiologic Technologist, Aiken Regional Medical Center
        Katherine DeLoach
        Development Officer, Morris Museum of Art
        Mark Fulcher, M.D.
        Orthopaedic Surgeon, Augusta University
        Elizabeth Sitton Morgan
        Hematology Sales Specialist, Novartis Oncology

        This entry was posted in Members. Bookmark the permalink.

      • Advisory Panel

        Posted on November 11, 2014August 17, 2018 by danceadmin

        Russell Joel Brown
        Director & Educator, Russell Joel Brown Foundation
        Kathryn Bush
        Office Manager, Colton Ballet School
        Jackie Crute, Founding Member
        Accountant
        Dr. Denise Evans
        Psychiatrist
        Michael Martin
        Gregory Negas Pierce, Founding Member
        Atlanta Visitors Bureau

        This entry was posted in Members. Bookmark the permalink.

    • 2017–18 Sponsors

      • Wells Fargo logo

        Wells Fargo
      • Knox Foundation logo

        Knox Foundation
      • Be Still Displays logo

        Be Still Displays

        http://www.bestilldisplays.com/
      • Greater Augusta Arts Council logo

        Greater Augusta Arts Council

        http://www.augustaarts.com/
      • City of Augusta logo

        City of Augusta

        http://www.augustaga.gov/
      • Boardroom

        The Boardroom

        http://www.boardroomclothingcompany.com/
      • ClearChannel

        Clear Channel

        http://www.clearchannel.com/
      • Augusta Health Orthopaedics logo

        Augusta Health Orthopaedics

        http://www.augustahealth.org/orthopaedics/orthopaedic-services-home
      • Augusta Health Sports Medicine logo

        Augusta Health Sports Medicine

        http://www.augustahealth.org/orthopaedics/sports-medicine/sports-medicine

    • Friends of Colton Ballet Company

      • DAUG.friends_LeChat

        Le Chat Noir

        http://www.lcnaugusta.com/
      • Colton Ballet School logo

        Colton Ballet School

        http://coltonballetschool.com
      • DAUG.friends_TAP

        Augusta Players

        http://augustaplayers.org/
      • DAUG.friends_JNS

        Jessye Norman School of the Arts

        http://www.jessyenormanschool.org/
      • DAUG.friends_ST

        Storyland Theatre

        http://www.storylandtheatre.org/
      • DAUG.friends_SOA

        Symphony Orchestra of Augusta

        http://soaugusta.org/
      • DAUG.friends_Imperial

        Imperial Theater

        http://www.imperialtheatre.com/
      • DAUG.friends_GHIOA

        Gertrude Herbert Museum

        http://www.ghia.org/
      • DAUG.friends_ACS

        Augusta Choral Society

        http://www.augustachoralsociety.org/

    • Fieldset

       

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    • Contact

      Colton Ballet Company logo

      Phone: 706.733.5511
      2941 Walton Way
      Augusta, Georgia 30909

           

      You may donate online or send donations to Colton Ballet Company at PO Box 3348 Augusta, GA 30914. All donations are tax-deductible and will be recognized in our season program. Donations received after Nov. 11th, will be recognized in our spring program.

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