BRANDON- On behalf of Alice H. Bock, Executive Director and the Board of Directors of Brandon Ballet, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Doricha Sales as Artistic Director for Brandon Ballet. As a former faculty member of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music’s Ballet Department for 13 years, she served as Director of their Elective and Pre-College Ballet Programs as well as Ballet Mistress for the IU Ballet Theatre. Ms. Sales comes to us as an accomplished and well-recognized dance educator, director and choreographer in the dance world.
Ms. Sales says of her new position as Artistic Director of Brandon Ballet:
“I am honored to be given this opportunity and excited to work with Alice Holden Bock and the Board to preserve and expand Brandon Ballet’s 24-year history of providing exceptional classical ballet training as well as high-quality productions for the communities surrounding central Florida. I look forward to bringing my unique background as performer, educator, administrator, and choreographer spanning 35 years in the world of classical ballet to assist in the leadership of this wonderful organization by honoring the traditions of classical ballet as well as staying on the cusp of current happenings in the dance world. My mission is to entice and produce kinesthetically aware and artistically unique dancers able to adapt to the vast repertoire of classical ballet while having the strength and knowledge to sustain viability in the current dance world while also giving professional dancers a place to call home.”
Alice Holden Bock, Executive Director of the Brandon Ballet says of the new changes:
“With Ms. Sales outstanding artistic qualities in the understanding of classical and neo-classical ballet repertoire, arts administration and community enrichment, she will bring the Brandon Ballet a higher quality in the performing arts to be shared with Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. The results will be seen on the stage, in the dancers superior training and throughout the community enrichment programs. Working with such a great artist as Doricha will give everyone involved great pride in being a part of a superior arts organization.”
**For more information concerning class schedules, performance dates, and how to support the Brandon Ballet, please contact:
Alice Holden Bock, Executive Director (813)-684-4282, or at dance@brandonballet.org.
Doricha Sales Bio
Doricha Sales is a native of Massachusetts and received her training in Classical Ballet at Boston School of Ballet and School of American Ballet. She graduated with a Master in Science in Ballet (Pedagogy) and Educational Psychology from Indiana University. She went on to become a faculty member of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music’s Ballet Department for 13 years, she served as Director of their Elective and Pre-College Ballet Programs as well as Ballet Mistress for the IU Ballet Theatre. She has worked with many great dance educators and choreographers such as Cynthia Gregory, E. Virginia Williams, Violette Verdy, Alexandra Danilova, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride, Bruce Wells, Sydney Leonard, and Jacques and Virginia Cesbron, to name a few.
Brandon Ballet History and Mission:
Founded in 1993, Brandon Ballet is a non-profit pre-professional ballet company that develops and promotes opportunities for aspiring young dancers. By offering a superior training program and three major performances each year, the Brandon Ballet helps serious dancers broaden their dance experiences.
From its humble beginnings, the company has grown to include 38 dancers of varying levels. Professional dancers, pre-professional, and training dancers call the Brandon Ballet home. The Brandon Ballet provides Brandon and the surrounding communities with an education in the art of dance. The Brandon Ballet serves the community through performances held at public facilities. All company dancers receive the highest caliber of professional training on a weekly basis and are provided the opportunity to learn standard classical repertoire. The Brandon Ballet has and will continue to foster growth and education by bringing guest teachers and choreographers to the community.