Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre

Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre was founded as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation on November 17, 2003. The Founding Artistic Director, Sarah Purvis, conceived the idea of forming a not-for profit, professional dance company that would embody all forms and genres of dance.  Sarah felt that the time had come to bring dance to the Erie community, so that dancers and audiences could experience dance in ways that others were already doing in major cities across the country.  Erie had many young people with talent (and some dance opportunities), but no true signature arena for aspiring dancers and dance enthusiasts to obtain the necessary training, participate in master classes, or experience performances as a dancer or audience member. 

In its short history, ECBT has brought to life the ballet How the Grinch Stole Christmas for twelve seasons and performed its first full length ballet of The Nutcracker in 2015 to sold-out audiences.  In addition, ECBT showcases an annual Spring Gala Concert specifically designed for children, a Director’s Choice performance to promote emerging and innovative choreography and presents numerous mini-performances and lecture demonstrations. ECBT also presents a master class series open to the public each year, inviting established, emerging, and innovative choreographers, and affording dancers varied performance opportunities.  Since its inception, ECBT has commissioned over 50 ballets, of which 38 are original ballets set on ECBT dancers and has had 42 different choreographers brought in to create pieces specifically for the ECBT dancers.  

In 2006 ECBT became a member of Regional Dance America (RDA) Northeast, becoming an Honor Company in 2012.  Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre is the only dance company in northwest Pennsylvania to become a member of the prestigious RDA Northeast.  The Company and its dancers are adjudicated by RDA annually, participate in its intensive summer dance program where they receive training from internationally recognized choreographers and teachers, and have been selected to perform at multiple RDA festivals.

Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre was developed and serves to inspire, educate, and enrich the lives of dancers and the community through outstanding training in and the performance of classical and contemporary forms of dance.  ECBT enhances the community's quality of life by celebrating, teaching, and promoting dance through performances, outreach activities, master classes, and other dance-related experiences.   

ECBT dancers have auditioned, been accepted, and attended such prestigious dance programs as Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Magnificat!, Chautauqua Ballet, Miami City Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Saratoga Springs Ballet, and School of American Ballet, to name a few. The dancers have performed not only on local stages but in national and international venues as well, such as the Benedum Center and the Byham Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA, the Symphony Hall Theater in Phoenix, AZ, The Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, FL, and the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier Theatre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

ECBT is successful because of the many supporters that understand the mission and vision of the Company. ECBT has been fortunate to receive funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Erie Arts and Culture, the Shuster Foundation, the Black Family Foundation, the Erie Community Foundation, and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority as well as many local, corporate, and individual gifts that support the commissioning of guest teachers and guest choreographers.  Partnerships are an amazing opportunity to invest in the dancers, choreographers, and the community through public educational activities and a variety of performances that engage diverse audiences while developing the knowledge and appreciation of classical and contemporary forms of dance.