Melrose Youth Ballet
About
Non-Profit Organization
A group of Melrose residents who shared a common passion of the arts were able to turn a dream into reality when they formally established the Melrose Youth Ballet in 1995. Since it's birth, MYB has provided dancers across the North Shore the opportunity to perform in a full length production of The Nutcracker.
Cast
Our youth cast consists of over 200 dancers from more than 20 surrounding communities, enrolled in as many as 30 different dance studios. Each year we invite select professional guest artists to perform.
Rehearsals
Our dedicated cast rehearses weekly October-December on Sundays. Our weekly rehearsals bring a sense of community among the dancers as they learn their roles, support each other, and develop each week.
Tech Week
Tech Week is when the stage comes to life! Our back stage crew works diligently during this time to hang the scrims and assemble our handmade scenery. The cast will dance in their costumes for the first time and the Co-Directors will work to ensure any necessary spacing adjustments are made on stage. During this time, lighting and music will also be programmed for a seamless transition come performance time.
Costumes
More than half of our costumes are handmade from local and other professional seamstresses. Part of the customization process for these costumes include designing, hand cutting, dying fabric and sewing each garment.
Production
Over the last two decades, MYB's production of The Nutcracker has become an annual tradition in the Melrose community and for local surrounding communities. Our Artistic Director's work hard to provide their own innovative twist on this classic production often through new choreography, roles, and costumes.
Community Engangement
The term community means so much more to us at MYB than the definition implies. We pride ourselves on building meaningful relationships with our dancers that often result in many of them returning beyond graduation to volunteer, watch the show, or simply stop by to say hello. We have participated in several events within Melrose to give back to our community such as producing a small scale Nutcracker performance for pre-schoolers at the library and senior citizens in elderly housing.
Values
At Melrose Youth Ballet, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment to all. We welcome dancers of all levels and backgrounds. We aim to provide a safe and inviting space for all who enter our doors. As the world of dance and society continues to evolve and change so do we.
In carrying out our Founders' mission of embracing the arts, we are honored to help provide local dancers with the opportunity to extend their passion for dance on stage, performing for the public.
Alumni
Our Alumni are forever a part of our MYB family. We are fortunate enough to have been able to maintain long term relationships with so many who have walked through our doors. We love hearing what our dancers go on to do from starting families of their own, choosing a career path, or continuing their passion for dance.
