MISSION STATEMENT

 
 
 

Tampa City Ballet considers the artistic representation of cultural and racial diversity essential, and focuses on cultivating such diversity as a priority of our mission in our Performances, our Educational Programming and our Employment Practices. 

Tampa City Ballet nurtures the cultural life of our community with our innovative performances featuring original 21st century choreography which transforms classical dance and ballet’s timeless fairy tales into modern story lines that are relatable to daily life.

Tampa City Ballet provides educational programming to our community by engaging with senior living facilities, home-schooled youth and presenting education as recreation to youth. We also enrich the artistic life of our community by our employment of professional dancers, choreographers, musicians, videographers, and designers.

In these and other ways Tampa City Ballet seeks to present the rich cultural diversity of the Tampa Bay area to the widest possible audience.

IMG_0285.jpg
 
 
 

Programs

Tampa City Ballet’s performance program aspires to develop new work that draws on the creative talents of contemporary choreographers and speaks to the time in which it is made and the history that inspired it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TCB’s resilience was tested. Through the talents of artistic director Paula Nunez and the brilliant filmmaker Natalie Marty, 7th Avenue & Ybor-102 Degrees was produced.

The short film about the cycle of life, loss, and love in 1918 Ybor City, hit hardest by the Spanish Flu, has been submitted to several prestigious film festivals around the country. In addition, family friendly events such as newly inspired creations of classic stories like Pulcinella, Cinderella, Nutcracker along with cutting edge contemporary/mature choreographic works, such as After Image, If I Cry, and It’s Been a Minute. TCB creates and stages a minimum of four unique events annually, promoted and presented to communities across Tampa Bay. Some are presented at no cost; others are ticketed events. 

Tampa City Ballet’s Education Program is designed to meet the needs of anyone from child to senior citizen at all levels from novice to preprofessional dancer. In partnership with the University Area Community Development Corporation, a non-profit whose mission is children and family development, TCB provides instruction and offers scholarships to talented youth who qualify.

 
 
 
mission-community-engagement-compress.jpg

Community Engagement

Tampa City Ballet’s community engagement program is designed to inspire the Tampa Bay communities with the power of dance. TCB believes dance is a social rite for all people, regardless of age, class, race, ability, or economic station.  In fact, the cast of TCB’s 2021 spring performance of Cinderella consisted of 60% minority dancers.

TCB engages with senior living facilities, home-schooled youth, the University Area Community Development Corporation, the Ybor City Development Corporation, and museums to provide and preserve the art of dance in Tampa Bay.

 
 
 
image-mission-2-compress.jpg

Goals

  1. To expand TCB audiences and make ballet accessible to the widest possible public.

  2. To raise the visibility of TCB by actively deepening our commitment to reflect the diversity of Tampa Bay on stage, in training programs, in our audiences and within the TCB leadership.

  3. To establish a permanent home for TCB where we can promote cultural and racial diversity, further cultivate a professionally dance-centered culture, expand community outreach classes, and create 21st century dance works.

  4. To nurture, encourage and support dancers of all levels.

  5. To attract professional dancers to perform, teach, and choreograph for TCB.

  6. To firmly establish and grow brand awareness of Tampa City Ballet.

 

 
 
 

Objectives

  1. Tampa City Ballet is currently seeking three new Board Members to add to our Working Board. Their expertise and network connections will bring dynamic individuals, businesses, and organizations with new insights to TCB. New Board members will be key in advocating for our organization and helping us meet our strategic goals. They will also stay abreast of city, county, and state current affairs as they relate to the arts while corresponding with elected officials.

  2. Our Board will focus on establishing new relationships for TCB within Tampa’s tourism industry such as Visit Tampa Bay and co-develop ways to increase TCB’s visibility while promoting our organization to visitors.

  3. Tampa City Ballet is currently in talks with elected officials and community leaders to identify a new facility/home. One of the most promising opportunities includes the establishment of a new arts center that was recently approved by the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners in New Tampa.

  4. Based on the success of the TCB partnership with the University Area Community Development Corporation and its program, On Your Feet, we have engaged with another local organization, New Tampa Players, in an effort to provide dance performance and education as recreation to youth. Future plans include multiplying our On Your Feet program and establishing three more satellite locations throughout Tampa Bay. This project will provide arts education to previously underserved communities with a vibrant and strong social impact. It will create teaching jobs for TCB dancers and cultivate new audiences to ensure long-term connections.

  5. Tampa City Ballet will continue to attract professional dancers/teachers to perform with TCB and teach in our Summer Intensive Program for the serious student.

  6. Tampa City Ballet will launch a new trainee program for eight pre-professional dancers interested in training with TCB.

  7. Tampa City Ballet is currently in discussions with the Cuban Club in historic Ybor City to make the Club one of the three satellite locations for classes that can be offered at free or reduced fees.

  8. Tampa City Ballet will continue to create two productions each year for our outreach and multidisciplinary performances, which have been so successful with all ages and audiences. During COVID-19, TCB performed outdoors in parks, squares and parking lots. TCB will continue to develop these events.

  9. Tampa City Ballet, with the leadership of Artistic Director Paula Nunez will continue to produce and present world premieres of original choreographic work at a variety of locations, including Hillsborough Community College, Mainstage Theatre, the Palladium, the University of South Florida, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, the Straz Center in Tampa, and at private events, including the Oxford Exchange, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the Dali Museum.