Ballet Hartford Unveils Exciting Spring Season Performance Plans

Ballet Hartford invites audiences to experience a captivating season of artistry, elegance, and beauty across central Connecticut, beginning next month and continuing through the Spring with performances in multiple venues in the region. With a stunning repertoire including The Sleeping Beauty, it promises to be another memorable season.

Non-traditional spaces such as the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington and the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown provide intimate performances offering audiences a truly unique experience, and the Hoffman Auditorium on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford offers a comfortable and accessible venue. This Spring, there will be a Family Day designed for young children in March, and special performances on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. The Ballet Hartford performance schedule includes:

Friday, February 14, 12-1:30pm - Valentine's Day at Ballet Hartford

Enjoy excerpts of Psyche and Eros, Coppélia and Rachmaninoff Variations followed by a dessert reception at Ballet Hartford's home studios, the 224 EcoSpace in Hartford.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-day-at-ballet-hartford-tickets-1138472474819?aff=oddtdtcreator

Saturday, March 15, 2:00-3:00PM - Family Day at The Hill-Stead Museum

Join Ballet Hartford for an interactive Sleeping Beauty ballet program for children ages 5-12 years with professional dancers. The program includes a ballet warm-up, learning choreography from The Sleeping Beauty, and a student Q&A with Ballet Hartford dancers.

$15 per child; Accompanying adults are free!

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-day-at-the-hill-stead-museum-tickets-1143256554129?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunday, March 30, 3:00-4:00PM - Behind the Ballet at The Hill-Stead Museum

Join Ballet Hartford for a behind-the-scenes experience featuring the making of Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos – a new ballet choreographed by Ballet Hartford’s Artistic Director, Claire Kretzschmar. This one-hour program dives deep into the choreographic process with performed ballet excerpts and a discussion led by guest moderator, Joanne Carey (host of the insightful podcast “Dance Talk with Joanne Carey”).

Tickets: $30 Adult; $20 Student (with Valid ID); $20 Child 12+under https://www.eventbrite.com/e/behind-the-ballet-at-the-hill-stead-museum-tickets-1141531073169?aff=oddtdtcreator

Friday, May 2, 7:00PM - The Sleeping Beauty

University of Saint Joseph, Hoffman Auditorium, West Hartford

Ballet Hartford brings to life the classic, timeless story of The Sleeping Beauty paired with a new world premiere Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos choreographed by Artistic Director Claire Kretzschmar, with support from the Roberts Foundation for the Arts, West Hartford. Tickets: $40 Adult; $20 Student (with valid ID); $20 Child 12+under; https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sleeping-beauty-tickets-1199877639319?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunday, May 11th (Mother's Day) 11:30am | 1:00PM - The Sleeping Beauty

Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown

Ballet Hartford returns to the Wadsworth Mansion with the classic, timeless story of The Sleeping Beauty followed by elegant treats and tea for Mother's Day.

Tickets: $40 General Admission (Link for tickets coming soon. Mark your calendars!)

“This spring season will be a delight. I am particularly excited about the curation for our Valentine's Day program and The Sleeping Beauty, because each performance features a timeless narrative ballet alongside a classical, contemporary premiere. I'd particularly encourage families to attend Ballet Hartford this season, to share with children the joy of storytelling through movement,” said Claire Kretzschmar, former New York City Ballet Soloist and Ballet Hartford's Artistic Director. Kretzschmar is in the midst of her first year as Artistic Director of Ballet Hartford.

The Sleeping Beauty marks the largest undertaking by the Ballet Hartford company in recent years, a narrative ballet that is traditionally popular with audiences, bringing together dance, music, costumes and stories.

“Each season has brought tremendous growth for our organization - most visibly in the programming we can provide for our audiences," shares Ballet Hartford's Executive Director, Leyna Doran. "This Spring Season is no exception; Claire's inspiration and artistic ingenuity will bring delight to audiences from all over."

“In our support of the arts, we seek to fund exceptional aesthetic experiences that reflect, celebrate and elevate the human spirit,” said Roberts Foundation for the Arts Executive Director Lisa M. Curran. “Ballet Hartford exemplifies that level of excellence, providing technical expertise and inspiring artistry.”

In December, Ballet Hartford, in association with Claire Kretzschmar Productions, performed on a three-city tour - to New York City, Philadelphia and Winston-Salem – receiving rave reviews. Performances included A Ceremony of Carols, a new Christmas tradition featuring original ballets by Kretzschmar.

In addition, a formal partnership has been established between Ballet Hartford and Woodbury Ballet. Woodbury Ballet's Artistic Director, Christine Harris, also serves as Ballet Hartford's Trainee Program Facilitator. Ballet Hartford’s Trainees performed at Waterbury’s Palace Theater in Woodbury Ballet’s performance of Nutcracker last month.

About Ballet Hartford

Under the leadership of Claire Kretzschmar, Ballet Hartford is consistently growing into an essential part of the cultural hub that is Hartford. Ballet Hartford resides in rehearsal space at the 224 EcoSpace on Farmington Avenue in Hartford.

With a busy Spring schedule following a successful multi-state Fall tour, it is safe to say that Ballet Hartford is on its way to earning a place on the national stage. For tickets and more information, go to ballethartford.com.

With professional dancers from across the United States, Ballet Hartford produces programs that uphold tradition and celebrate innovation. Accompanied by its affiliate school, the School of Ballet Hartford, with a Spring schedule running from January through May, the company strives for excellence with joy in all of its performances and offerings to the public. Auditions for the 2025-26 season will be held in March and April 2025.