Regional Dance America

Regional Dance America was founded in 1988 to promote the artistic development of dance companies and to continue the important work that was started in 1956 by the National Association for Regional Ballet. NARB was instrumental in the decentralization of dance in the United States.

Every year across the country member companies attend a regional festival to share four days of classes, lectures, seminars and social events. Performances showcasing the member companies demonstrate the growth they have achieved throughout the year. The interchange among dancers, directors, choreographers and world-class teachers over the intensive festival period is one of the greatest benefits of Regional Dance America.

Canton Ballet has been a member company since 1965 (first of NARB and now of RDA). It has been an honor company within the organization since 1984.

Artistic Director Cassandra Crowley was a founding director of Regional Dance America, served on its national board of directors for fifteen years and is now a Director Emeritus.

Visit the Regional Dance America web site.

What is Adjudication?

Each spring a different nationally recognized judge visits each of the member companies of Regional Dance America, observes class and rehearsals and evaluates the quality of what they see. Canton Ballet is a member of RDA/Northeast.  One or more ballets are chosen for the RDA/NE Festival held in the spring each eyar.

There are three potential programs on which the adjudicator may place ballets.  One is the Emerging Choreographer's showcase, another is the Concert program held on Friday night and finally, the highest and most prestigeous level is the Gala program held on Saturday night of the festival. Canton Ballet has most often been placed on the Gala program.  Each year we have to work very hard to try to maintain that standard as each judge sees us from a new perspective.