Tulsa Ballet…Then and Now
The story of Tulsa Ballet began in 1956. Husband and wife Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin, and musician Rosalie Talbott, founded Tulsa Ballet Theatre, blending classical dance with dramatic theatre. Internationally known dancers in the Ballet Russe tradition, Jasinski and Larkin set the tone for artistic excellence—a foundation that has been preserved and built upon for decades.
Today, Tulsa Ballet annually reaches more than 40,000 individuals across Oklahoma and employs a multi-cultural roster of dancers comprised of 27 highly-skilled professionals representing 10 different countries. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Marcello Angelini, Tulsa Ballet has reached new heights on the stage. Tulsa Ballet was the first arts organization in the state to be named an Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador and has brought unprecedented recognition to Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma by developing an artistic reputation marked by innovative works with international impact. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works in classical and contemporary dance to the Midwest region, giving audiences a unique opportunity to view world-class ballet in the heartland of America.
Today, Tulsa Ballet annually reaches more than 40,000 individuals across Oklahoma and employs a multi-cultural roster of dancers comprised of 27 highly-skilled professionals representing 10 different countries. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Marcello Angelini, Tulsa Ballet has reached new heights on the stage. Tulsa Ballet was the first arts organization in the state to be named an Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador and has brought unprecedented recognition to Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma by developing an artistic reputation marked by innovative works with international impact. Regarded as one of the top ballet companies in North America, Tulsa Ballet consistently brings the finest works in classical and contemporary dance to the Midwest region, giving audiences a unique opportunity to view world-class ballet in the heartland of America.
Tulsa Ballet in the Community
Tulsa Ballet believes that all individuals in our community deserve access to the arts, and we are committed to providing arts education and outreach through the Center for Dance Education (CDE). Since its inception in 2003, the CDE has quickly become recognized as the region’s leading ballet training facility with an annual enrollment of approximately 550 students. CDE reaches out to children and families from underserved communities through programs geared toward dance education, promotion, and appreciation, serving more 6,000 individuals annually. Tulsa is just one of 11 cities nationally selected by The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C., to participate in the “Any Given Child” initiative. As part of “Any Given Child,” every 5th grader in Tulsa Public Schools will attend a performance of Peter and the Wolf, Tulsa’s brand new outreach performance, featuring the artists of Tulsa Ballet II. Tulsa Ballet also works with more than 50 Tulsa-based social-service agencies to create Partners in Art (PIA) and Hope for the Holidays (HFH). Through those two programs more than 4,300 individuals attend a PIA or HFH performance for free.
The Hardesty Center for Dance Education
Tulsa Ballet has launched a $25 million Integrated Campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in the history of the company. Funds raised from the Defining the Future Campaign will be used to broaden the reach of the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education, build and create new productions, and increase the Tulsa Ballet endowment in order to provide for the long‐term sustainability of the organization.
In August 2016, Tulsa Ballet opened the doors to The Hardesty Center for Dance Education, located in Broken Arrow, just east of the intersection of Aspen Avenue (145th) and New Orleans (101st). The Hardesty Center for Dance Education was possible as the result of a generous gift of 13.72 acres from the Hardesty Family Foundation and its founders, Roger and Donna Hardesty. The gift, valued at $4.185 million, is one of the largest gifts ever awarded by the Foundation. The facility was designed by Selser Schaefer Architects, and the structural and civil engineering was provided by KKT Architects.
The 21,000-square-foot facility houses the Ann and Jack Graves Studios and the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation Performance Studio, which serves as a performance venue for ballet students and educational outreach programs, as well as a functioning dance studio. Tulsa Ballet II, the official second company of Tulsa Ballet, also offers performances in the Zarrow Studio.
In August 2016, Tulsa Ballet opened the doors to The Hardesty Center for Dance Education, located in Broken Arrow, just east of the intersection of Aspen Avenue (145th) and New Orleans (101st). The Hardesty Center for Dance Education was possible as the result of a generous gift of 13.72 acres from the Hardesty Family Foundation and its founders, Roger and Donna Hardesty. The gift, valued at $4.185 million, is one of the largest gifts ever awarded by the Foundation. The facility was designed by Selser Schaefer Architects, and the structural and civil engineering was provided by KKT Architects.
The 21,000-square-foot facility houses the Ann and Jack Graves Studios and the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation Performance Studio, which serves as a performance venue for ballet students and educational outreach programs, as well as a functioning dance studio. Tulsa Ballet II, the official second company of Tulsa Ballet, also offers performances in the Zarrow Studio.
