New Ballet Ensemble is coming off its 14th annual performance of NutRemix, an urban twist on the traditional ballet of The Nutcracker.
Katie Smythe, CEO and artistic director, describes the ballet performance as an attempt to make The Nutcracker relevant for today’s audience while also keeping it relevant to those who love tradition.
NutRemix is set on Beale Street, making it both a Memphis story and an international one. Instead of stereotypical depictions of the dances from different countries, Smythe and her company use dance instructors, props, and dances authentic to the countries represented.
In addition to the countries traditionally featured in The Nutcracker like Spain and China, NBE this year added a dance from New Guinea, suggested by a company member to give a nod to the culture of the many African-American students in the ensemble. A dance from Harlem is also featured.
Smythe sees this diversity as parallel to the intercultural mission of NBE.
“Initially, I thought simply opening up the doors and saying no matter where you come from or who you are, you should never have economics or race be a barrier to a college aspiration for dance," said Smythe.
“However, not that many people got that message, so we started touring around schools and teaching there and addressing the transportation barrier.”
NBE partners with over a dozen area organizations, not only including other arts organization but also educational organizations, transportation partners and drug prevention agencies. Their mission is to gather dancers from all across Memphis despite economic status or race. They have 250 students who pay tuition and 150 students on scholarship.
NBE partners with Lester, Binghampton and Dunbar elementary schools as recruitment centers and teaches students at those schools. NBE also has Arts 360 programs at Bartlett and Sheerwood elementary schools, where the nonprofit buses students to NBE performances and partners with teachers to educate their students about dance.
Some students transfer from in-school classes to NBE's Cooper-Young studio.
One of the many organizations NBE partners with is the Grizzlies Mentor program. Smythe says NBE's ultimate goal is to get students into top notch college dance programs, if that’s what they want, and on scholarship, if that’s what they need. So far they have had great success. One hundred percent of NBE graduates have been admitted into college since 2008.
Because of their success, demand is incredibly high. They are in the middle of a two-year capacity building campaign, which launched about a year ago. Staff at NBE has increased to be able to take on more students.
“We want our students to live whole lives,” said Smythe. “It is not just about dance. It’s about creating disciplined and successful people who can reach their goals.”
The last performance of this year’s NutRemix takes place on Dec. 1 at Lester Community Center in Binghampton.
NBE’s next show will be Spring Loaded at the Germantown Performing Arts Center. The show will also travel to five area schools between April 7 and 9. NBE will make history that weekend as the first Memphis dance company to ever be on the GPAC season.
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