Five new dancers were admitted into the Oil Region Ballet: Annalese Bresee, Lilly Burkhardt, Lauren Hosick, Ellie Moser and Elise Switzer. Their sojourn with ORB began with a similar experience as Deborah Femovich's piece. After they signed their contracts and attended the orientation meeting, they were ready to begin their ORB adventure.
In July, ORB hosted its annual Summer Intensive Program, bringing ten professional instructors into the area to coach and advise all dancers enrolled. On Aug. 2 and Aug. 3 the five new dancers met the other 19 student and adult company members (Rachel Brunot, Sylvia Cagle, Kennedy Dawson, Cole Devine, Addisyn Edwards, Kherington Kase, Justus Lind, Addison Murphy, Lucy Murphy, Emary Pentz, Marley Plowman, Morgan Sleet, Sophia Sobina, Josephine Stout, Christopher Warner and Abigail Williams), as the rehearsal schedule began with a concentrated Ballet Bootcamp.
This season the governing board (Deborah Femovich, Cheryl Leech, Todd Plowman, Michael Sleet, MD,FACS, Cynthia Richar, Kinta Alizzeo, Jennifer Brunot, Erin Edwards, Sarah Lind, Nicole Morrell and Jennifer Murphy), has introduced a two-production schedule. An impressive amount of choreography was introduced in the first two days of rehearsal. Three choreographers, Sylvia Cagle, Deborah Femovich and Brian Murphy, were acquired for the first production The Nutcracker, and an additional choreographer, Victoria Stachelrodt, has been asked to join the other three choreographers for the upcoming production of Cinderella.
Rehearsal times are extended, requiring all dancers to practice each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to get the hours needed to complete two full-length shows. The Artistic Director Deborah Femovich, assisted by Sylvia Cagle, says they have never seen such a dedicated and hard-working group of dancers as this current company boasts.
Unique programming
How is the Oil Region Ballet Company different from the numerous dance companies found throughout the U.S.? There are several unique differences in ORB’s organization. First, they are not located in a densely populated area. This means their pool of talent is different. Yes, it is smaller, but the interested and talented dancer travels longer distances to participate in the opportunities offered. “This also means our dancers are unique,” says Deborah. “We have had dancers leave rehearsal to show hogs and steer in the 4H fair, or come off the rugby field covered in mud for rehearsal. A different type of dancer is grown here. They are resilient, respectful and diverse.” Currently, ORB pulls talent from four different counties in the Oil Region.
ORB does not currently own bricks and mortar, but instead rents studio space from a centralized dance studio. Not only does this allow the travel area to change depending upon the company of dancers, but it also supports local businesses. ORB does not have a dance school from which it grooms and pulls its dancers. Instead, ORB offers its dance opportunities to all area dance studios, drawing its talent from any studio while offering augmented dance experiences and training. Dancers continue to train in their home studios.
ORB does not charge any dancer audition or participation fees. Most, if not all, dance companies have sizable audition fees and membership fees required. Instead, ORB asks dancers and their families to volunteer their time and services to keep its programs running. The company also offers scholarship opportunities to area dancers who demonstrate financial hardship and/or talent. While offering all this opportunity, the organization also brings outside professional teaching instruction to the area during its Master Class series and Summer Intensive weeks. Attendance of these classes is not limited to the company of dancers, but are community wide dance opportunities.
Professional dance exposure and experiences are gained while dancing and partnering with professional dancers hired to augment the company ranks. A multi-generational attitude is maintained, offering adult dancers a place to continue their passion for the arts. Working side by side, adult and student dancers offer an extended view of the dance world. Dance does not need to end when you enter the “real” world, instead keep your passion alive and dance your dreams!
Dance education
Dance education is also a prime goal of this organization. Since it is not located in an urban environment, exposure to the ballet arts is curtailed. In the past, lengthy travel was required if a family wished to see a full-length ballet. Many still enjoy a foray into the city for this pleasure, but having a localized ballet company performing right here in local theaters means more people get to share this experience.
ORB also offers exposure and insights into the ballet world to surrounding school students. Its Winter programming hosts two Outreach Programs for area schools and home-schooled groups. For a drastically reduced price, classrooms of children are offered one full act of performance and a peek into the inner workings of the production.
One-on-one question and answer sessions are conducted between the dancers and the students. Scouting programs are also offered to area troops. This program offers theater education and terminology, a backstage tour of the theater and participation in company warm-ups with dancers. They are keeping the art of ballet alive by planting the seeds of interest in the next generation. A healthy arts community equals a healthy community overall.
If you wish more information on ORB’s many programs, please contact oilregionballet@gmail.com.
Funding
As the economy in the surrounding areas has suffered, so has support for the arts. The ORB Board has noted a marked decrease in community support through its Sponsorship campaign. Projecting continued hard times in their viewing areas, the Board increased the number of fundraising opportunities this season. They continue to look for other means to raise funding in support of their unique ballet programs.
Grant writing is also key to the survival of the company. ORB employs a grant writer who is constantly looking for new funding opportunities, but ORB is up against an onslaught of other meaningful grant finalists. Often arts funding is bumped in favor of fundamental care organizations to meet community needs. And national art funding is limited to geographical areas. The Oil Region is lumped into the greater Erie territory, competing with the larger communities for funding within the finite dollar amount granted in that area.
Does this mean hard times are ahead? The ORB Board understands there is an ebb and flow in our economy and hopes to offset the current trends by other means. It is looking into the future, trying to gauge its next move. In 2024, it expanded its performance schedule to include a community favorite, The Nutcracker, performed in December at the Barrow Civic Theatre. Budget planning hoped the initial financial expense of build set, lighting and costuming would be offset with this and future seasonal productions of the ballet. The community embraced The Nutcracker with three nearly sold-out shows. ORB hopes to continue this community favorite annually, taking its production to other theaters in the region, rotating between area audiences. Future budgeting and postmortem reports will demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy, but the projections look positive.
This Nutcracker performance starred principal dancers Sophia Sobina as Clara, Cole Devine as the Nutcracker, Justus Lind as Sugar Plum Fairy and Caleb Waybright as Drosselmeyer. Invited special guests Frankie Fink, Kevin Fox, Wilson Kot, Madi Reagle, Maryan See, Kinsee Sheckler, Kaleb Sheckler, Oliver Switzer, Meleah Thompson and Logan Welms also performed with the company members. Many of the amazing costumes, such as the 7-headed Rat King, were crafted by the talented Tina Borger of Westmoreland Tennessee, while others were crafted by Deborah Femovich.
Coming soon
In just a few short weeks the Oil Region Ballet will be coming to the stage once more with the production of Cinderella, beginning Feb. 21 and 22 at the Barrow Civic Theatre in Franklin, and Feb. 28 and March 1 at The Academy Theatre in Meadville.
This family favorite will star Rachel Brunot as Cinderella, Christopher Warner as the Prince, Marley Plowman and Morgan Sleet as the Stepsisters, and Belina Devine as the Stepmother. The Season Fairies will be danced by Kherington Karns, Lucy Murphy, Sophia Sabina and Victoria Stachelrodt and the Chancellor role will be danced by Cole Devine. Don’t miss the Cat and Mouse troubles, a leaping Grasshopper and beautiful Star Fairies. When the clock strikes midnight, the Ballroom Dancers offer a dire warning for Cinderella. Then watch as the Prince seeks to be reunited with his true love. One shoe can change your life!
