By Morgan Bryce
Associate Editor
The East Alabama Community Ballet group held auditions Sunday in preparation for their annual performance of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 14-16 at the Telfair Peet Theater in Auburn.
Founded in 1995, the group is the area’s only nonprofit, community ballet company and is an umbrella program of the Community Foundation of East Alabama.
According to company member Allie Dyleski, the group invites dancers from local schools or dance studios to participate and enhance their productions with a goal of “promoting the art of ballet in East Alabama.”
“We are a unique, service-oriented ballet company, and we believe that our mission is best accomplished through partnerships with others in our community. One facet of our mission is integrating arts and education by bringing classical ballet to those who might not otherwise be able to participate in or experience it,” Dyleski said.
To complement local talent, Dyleski said guest artists have been a part of their Nutcracker performances, including members of the Georgia Ballet Company.
The company’s other main event is annual benefit performance called “Turn Out, Reach Out,” a collective performance staged by members from local dance studios. Proceeds from last year’s event were donated to the Food Bank of East Alabama’s “Backpack Program.”
For more information about the company, visit www.eacballet.com.
Their offices are located at 1103 Glenn St., inside the Southside Center for the Performing Arts.