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Throughout its 60-year history, The Washington Ballet has steadily progressed as a major force in the dance world and in its community. Important benchmarks, accomplishments and milestones have contributed to The Washington Ballet of today:
Mary Day and her mentor Lisa Gardiner establish The Washington School of Ballet in 1944.
In the 1950s, a pre-professional group of dancers trained at the School joins together to perform around Washington, DC with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Cathedral, and the D.C. Recreation department. This group also toured New York, West Virginia and the Dominican Republic, where the troupe performed with Alicia Alonso.
In 1961, The Washington Ballet premieres Mary Day's The Nutcracker with the National Symphony Orchestra in Constitution Hall and starts a long-running tradition of delighting audiences during the holidays.
Mary Day observes the teaching methods of the renowned Russian Academy of Ballet on a 1961 visit to the Soviet Union as part of the United Stated Department Leaders and Specialists Program. Inspired by her travels, Miss Day establishes The Academy of The Washington Ballet, combining dance and academics from 1962 to 1977. Although the academic section of the School closed in 1977, the dance training continues to this day.
For the 1972 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, Miss Day decides to take one of her students, Kevin McKenzie, where he won the silver medal. Kevin McKenzie is now the artistic director of American Ballet Theatre.
In 1976, Mary Day starts The Washington Ballet, providing a showcase for the budding young talents of The Washington School of Ballet. The first season consists of three works by an up-and-coming dancer/choreographer from Dutch National Ballet, Choo-San Goh, who becomes resident choreographer and later associate artistic director. During his time at The Washington Ballet until his death in 1987, Goh choreographed 19 ballets for the company.
In 1980, 17-year-old company member Amanda McKerrow is chosen as one of nine dancers to compete on the official U.S. dance team at the Fourth International Ballet Competition in Moscow. She partners with Simon Dow and wins the gold medal, becoming the first American to win the competition.
During the 1980s and 1990s, The Washington Ballet continues to grow, performing full seasons in Washington, DC and touring internationally to China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia, Spain, South America and more.
In 1999, Septime Webre joins The Washington Ballet as the artistic director and steers the Company towards new challenges, expanding the repertoire and broadening the Company's scope. Mr. Webre also initiates DanceDC, The Washington Ballet's flagship outreach and education program that incorporates dance and language arts.
October 2000: Septime Webre leads The Washington Ballet on an historic tour of Havana, making it the first American ballet company to perform in Cuba since 1960.
Miss Day announces her retirement in 2003 and in August 2004, Rebecca Wright, former soloist with the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, becomes the Director of The Washington School of Ballet and served until her untimely death in January 2006.
THEARC, a joint-use facility that delivers first-rate programs and services of cultural, health, recreation and human development organizations to residents east of the Anacostia River, opened in April 2005. The Washington School of Ballet started its first programming there in the Summer of 2005.
Mary Day passes away in July 2006, leaving a large and meaningful legacy on the institution and the dance world at large.
In 2007, Kee Juan Han is appointed Director of The Washington School of Ballet, ushering in a new era of energy and excitement to the training program of The Washington School of Ballet.
Today, over 60 years after the first classes took place in Mary Day's living room, The Washington Ballet and The Washington School of Ballet continue to provide exceptional training in the classroom and breathtaking performances in the theater.
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