This article appeared in the April 9, 2003 Cambridge Chronicle.

http://www.townonline.com/cambridge/arts_lifestyle/arts_lifestyle/cam_artccballet04092003.htm

Pirouettes point to Mateo's Theatre

By Susie Davidson / Correspondent

Wednesday, April 9, 2003

Cambridge is a city replete with institutions. Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre, which has been offering classes and performances for 17 seasons, has not only earned the distinction, but has made it permanent by recently extending its 20-year lease at the Old Cambridge Baptist Church to 41 years.

The 20-member ballet company and school, Boston's second largest, continues to grow with an ongoing, three-phase construction project begun in July, 2000, aimed at achieving a world-class status for its 400 Harvard St. facility. Original works and new interpretations are presented throughout New England as well as community efforts, which include Dance for the Commonwealth, a series of eight public outreach programs that provide training, education and tickets; free tickets to seniors, youth and the disadvantaged; dance scholarships, dance education opportunities and auditions open to youth.

The school is comprised of The Young Dancers Program, which includes YouthWorks, where dancers aged 14 to 18 perform to diverse audiences, a Summer Program, and an Open Class Program for adults. Beginner to advanced-level ballet classes for adults take place six days a week, and the novice can feel quite comfortable, according to communications director Julie Hayen-Miller.

"In addition to our Elementary and Intermediate ballet classes, we've seen a real increase in popularity in our Introduction to Ballet courses," she said, noting that ballet, like yoga and Pilates, has become very popular due to its health benefits, which include strengthening and toning, as well as increasing flexibility. "We see a lot of Cambridge residents and people who work in the area and come in for a class right after work," she said. Rare for the Square, there is ample parking available for the evening classes.

For students who have never before taken ballet, the intro covers the basics of training. The elementary class is geared to those who have had one to two years of ballet study; the intermediate, 3-plus. Both the elementary and intermediate include exercises in barre and centre work, within a standard ballet format. All classes, which are ongoing, are one-and-a-half hours in duration, and are accompanied by a pianist.

Under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director José Mateo, who was born in Cuba and holds a bachelor's degree in art history from Princeton University, the highly-respected company is the only one in New England with a full repertory of over 40 original works by its own residential choreographer.

Mateo, who received a 1996 artist fellowship in choreography from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and whose New Classicism reflects his own contemporary ballet vision, is an associate director of Arts Boston and a member of the Boston Cultural Council.

"New Dances," a series of four ballets, ends April 13. Its innovative format, featuring Wagner, Bach, Ravel and Haydn with intimate cabaret-style table seating including cocktails and close-up view of the dancers, was named one of Dance Magazine's national "25 to Watch" listing.

"Our new work is helping dance audiences distinguish the classical from the traditional aspects of ballet," said Mateo. "Audiences are still captivated by dancing 'en pointe' and appreciate discovering that there is a world of endless possibilities for exciting theatre in new ballets for today's audiences."

"New Dances offers a great introduction to ballet for people who wouldn't normally attend a ballet performance," said Hayen-Miller. "We see a lot of Cambridge residents attend, particularly since it's so easy for them just to walk over and not have to go to the Theatre District for a show."

Classes, $10 for singles, $90 for ten (taken within six weeks), at 400 Harvard St., inside the Old Cambridge Baptist Church, are on a drop-in basis, scheduled as follows: Introduction to Ballet ($96 for eight): Thursday, 6-7:30 p.m. (pre-registration required) Elementary: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6-7:30 p.m. Intermediate: Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-noon, and 6-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For information, please call 617-354-7467 or visit http://www.ballettheatre.org.