José Mateo's Ballet Theatre

CONTACT:

400 Harvard Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-354-7467
www.ballettheatre.org

Julie Hayen Miller, Director of Communications

DESCRIPTION:

What do the New York City Ballet, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the Dutch National Ballet, the Royal Ballet, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company all have in common? They all feature former students of JosŽ Mateo's Ballet Theatre (BT), the second-largest dance organization in New England.

Since 1986, Ballet Theatre has trained up to 400 students per year — largely inner-city youth who would otherwise have little exposure to this art form — and has brought the magic of ballet to 70,000 people annually. This is one of New England's leading dance companies, and all this has been accomplished without a permanent facility — until recently. BT has found an historic home for its teaching, rehearsing, performing, and administration: the Old Cambridge Baptist Church, in Harvard Square — a neo-gothic gem, designed by Alexander Esty and built in 1870, with lovely rhythmic arches and stained glass windows (some attributed to Tiffany). But it's a "fixer-upper" — BT is now working hard to transform this neglected National Historical Landmark into a unique state-of-the-art dance facility — everything from electrical, heating, and plumbing upgrades to installing dance floors, performance space, sound and lighting equipment, to providing fire detection and modern public access systems. Philanthropists, step forward! If ever there was a "Special Project", this is it, and we hope you will make it yours as well.

(2001: CULTURE: Arts: Performing: Music and Dance)