On Monday, the Kansas City Ballet kicks off a two-week celebration of its new home in the Crossroads, the $32 million Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity.
By Laura Spencer
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Kansas City, Mo. – On Monday, the Kansas City Ballet kicks off a two-week celebration of its home in the Crossroads, the $32 million Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity.
The Kansas City Ballet has led a somewhat nomadic existence over the last five decades, creating rehearsal studios in a warehouse and a former grade school. The company has never had a permanent home, until now: The Todd Bolender Center, a restored and re-purposed 1914 coal-fired powerhouse near Union Station.
There are seven dance studios, a physical therapy room, as well as a 180-seat theater. The building will also house administrative and artistic staff.
Executive Director Jeffrey Bentley calls it a transformative moment.
"People really are looking at this year and saying this is what we've all been looking towards in Kansas City, in terms of all of the arts organizations taking that next step," says Bentley. "And this performing arts center (the Kauffman Center, opening September 16) and the Bolender Center have made that especially relevant.
Free events, including dance classes for children and adults, will be offered to the public August 22 - September 2.
The Bolender Center officially opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, August 26.
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