Last year, on the final night of the Plano Metropolitan Ballet’s performance of Rapunzel, the audience became the first to hear of a new artistic venture based in Plano — director Cindi Lawrence Hanson announced the National Ballet of Texas, Collin County’s first professional ballet company.
Hanson began her dance training at the Royal School of Dance in Winter Park, Florida, followed by continued studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Now, she’s known for her leadership in the Plano arts community, teaching students at Gotta Dance/Plano Metropolitan Ballet for over 30 years.
The ballet’s inaugural performance was held in early August. Titled Poetic Beginnings: an Evening of Movement and Music, the program included seven newly commissioned works alongside live music by Resonance Collective performed for an audience of nearly 300 patrons.
According to Lawrence Hanson, plans are underway for two spring performances at venues in Plano and Addison.
Following the National Ballet of Texas’ first performance in August, we caught up with Hanson to talk about starting the company.
What inspired you to start your own professional ballet company?
I have dreamed this dream of creating a professional company for a very long time. I always believed it would happen someday. My someday came last December when I decided to name the company National Ballet of Texas. That day the dream I dreamed became real.
How has this process been different from running Plano Metropolitan Ballet?
Plano Met is an exceptional student ballet company that I am so proud to be a part of! It was founded in 1987 when so much was very different. I did not start Plano Met Ballet but rather inherited it as director in 1998. I was determined for Plano Met Ballet to have a special identity and began our tradition of fairy-tale ballets. A professional ballet company will offer new challenges and opportunities.
Performances by National Ballet of Texas will bring artistry and creativity to our community through world-class classical and contemporary ballet. From presenting renowned classical repertoire and brand-new works, the company aims to promote its art in an accessible way, focusing on outreach and education. Additionally, National Ballet of Texas works to ensure collaboration with other artists in the community — from musicians and visual artists to actors and designers — to present highly engaging, entertaining and emotive movements.
How did you select your performers?
To begin National Ballet of Texas, I first spoke to Sydney Blalock Ritchie about coming on board as ballet mistress. I knew exactly who I wanted to create the choreography. Sydney Blalock Ritchie, Alex Hugo, Gabrielle Collins and Jennifer Mabus each agreed to be part of our inaugural performance. We then began our search for dancers, receiving bios and reels from many applicants. Contracts were awarded and we moved forward with casting and began rehearsals. Debra Collins, our costume mistress, began planning costumes on the first day.
What has the process been like of starting a professional company?
Beginning this new ballet company was such an exciting adventure! There was so much happening all at the same time with my dance school, Gotta Dance, Plano Metropolitan Ballet, and our first season of National Ballet of Texas. Sponsor letters, press releases and printing would not have made their deadlines without help from friends and associates who poured themselves into this project.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
