Just a Few Fun Tidbits about Peoria Ballet

Established in 1965 by Shirley Pizer

Peoria Civic Ballet was founded in 1965 by Jack Coney, Mrs. Sam Pizer, Mrs. Arnold Salzenstein, Jack Slater and Daniel Steinberg. 

Peoria Civic Ballet’s premiere performance was in April of 1966 and included pieces from Sound of Music, Oklahoma and My Fair Lady.

Ballerina means "title bestowed on a female dancer who sustains the chief classical roles in a ballet company."

A male dancer lifts over 1 1/2 tons worth of ballerinas during an average performance.

Most professional ballerinas wear out 2-3 pairs of pointe shoes per week.

One tutu can cost up to $2,000 to make.

A tutu requires 60-90 hours of labor to make and over 100 yards of ruffle.

On average, England’s Royal Ballet troupe goes through 15,000 pairs of pointe shoes a year.

Peoria Civic Ballet was housed at the GAR building in downtown Peoria for 20 years.

Pointe shoes are handmade.

Women were not allowed to dance in public until 1681.

Dancers rub rosin on their shoes to prevent slipping, which is also used by baseball pitchers to improve their grip on the ball.

An arabesque is a pose where a dancer stands on one leg and the other is in a straight line to the rear and foot pointed.

Chaîné turns (shah·NAY) are fast turns on half or full point with the legs in a tight first position, rotating a half turn on each foot, and are done one after the other so they're "chained" together.

Corps de ballet – the dancers in a ballet who do not appear as soloists

Pas de Deux – dance for two

Pirouette – A complete turn of the body on one foot, on point or demi-pointe

Plié – a bending of the knee or knees – an exercise to render the joints and muscles soft and pliable and the tendons flexible and elastic, and to develop a sense of balance

Fondue - a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg

Peoria Ballet was located downtown in the GAR Building for 20 years.

Peoria Ballet moved to North Industrial Road in August of 2001.

In 2002, Peoria Ballet hired its first full-time professional dancer, Andrea Bergeman.

Our Community Outreach Programs include: Special Needs class for adults at the Peoria Association of Retarded Citizens; Dance Therapy for children at Easter Seals with both physical and neurological challenges; Dance Therapy for children afflicted with Autism and Asperger's; and lecture demonstrations at area schools, teaching students the world of dance with an emphasis on ballet.

Artistic Director – Erich Yetter

Academy Director – Rebekah von Rathonyi

Business Manager - Suzie Pschirrer

Development Director – Linda Yoder

2006-2007 Peoria Ballet Season

Nutcracker - Peoria Civic Center Theater
December 9th at 7:30pm
December 10th at 2:00pm

Cinderella - Peoria Civic Center Theater
March 3rd at 7:30pm
March 4th at 2:00pm

Fundraising Events Include:

Sugar Plum Party to accompany Nutcracker performance

Gala Ball – dinner and silent auction

Wine Tasting Event – hors d’oeuvres and silent auction at InPlay

PACE sponsored events

Needs - Corporate partnerships