Metropolitan Ballet Goes On Pointe in Canada

The dancers in the had a full weekend, performing at the 12th annual Inman Park Dance Festival before heading north to Montreal, Canada.

On April 28 Metropolitan Ballet Theatre performed at the Inman Park Dance Festival. They were one of six companies chosen to participate this year.

"To be a pre-professional dance company and to be included in an event like this shows the level of dance that they have been able to reach under the direction of our artistic director, Maniya Barredo," said Kellie W. Meckes in a release about the performances. 

The other dance companies participating were:

• Agnes Scott College Dance program
• Zoetic Dance Ensemble
• Ballethnic
• Full Radius Dance
• Gathering Wild Dance Company

In its history, the program has presented over 450 performers, paid Atlanta area dance companies more than $33,000 in performance fees and served an audience of more than 11,500, according to its website.

On April 29, Metropolitan Ballet Theater's 34 dancers and staff traveled to Montreal for Regional Dance America's National Festival.

As members of Southeastern Regional Ballet Association, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre participates annually in the southeastern Regional Dance America festival. Every four years, all regions come together for one, large national festival. Metropolitan Ballet Theatre students and staff jonied 2,000 dancers, 90 companies and 250 directors and teachers in Montreal, for 5 days of classes and performances.

They have been selected to perform in the closing performance, a contemporary piece choreographed by Artistic Director Maniya Barredo. This piece, called Voix, is danced on pointe and is inspired by 'the unspoken words of women, Meckes said.