What Happened to the Cleveland Ballet?

Ballet

The Cleveland Ballet was one of the most renowned ballet companies in the United States, having been founded in 1976 by Dennis Nahat and Gladisa Guadalupe. The company performed to sold-out audiences throughout Ohio and had a strong reputation for bringing the best of classical and contemporary ballet to its stages. However, despite its success, the Cleveland Ballet was forced to close its doors in May 2013 due to financial difficulties.

The Cleveland Ballet had been facing financial difficulty since 2010 when it ran a deficit of over $2 million dollars. This deficit made it difficult for the company to keep up with rising costs and as a result, they were forced to make a number of cuts in order to stay afloat.

These cuts included reducing staff, reducing programming, and cutting back on their production budget. Despite these efforts, the company still found itself unable to break even and eventually made the difficult decision to close its doors for good.

The closure of the Cleveland Ballet was a major blow for dancers and fans alike who had come to know and appreciate the quality productions that were put on by this prestigious company. It marked the end of an era for many people who had grown up watching or participating in performances from this world-renowned group. The loss of this artistic institution was felt not only within Ohio but also on an international level as well.

Since its closure, there have been some attempts at reviving the Cleveland Ballet including a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 that raised nearly $50,000 but ultimately fell short of its goal. There has also been talk of creating a new ballet company in Cleveland which would bring professional-level performances back to northeastern Ohio but nothing has come to fruition yet.

Conclusion:

The Cleveland Ballet once provided world-class performances that were enjoyed by dancers and fans alike throughout Ohio and beyond. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, it was forced to close its doors permanently in 2013 leaving behind a huge void within the performing arts community. Since then, there have been various attempts at reviving the company but nothing has come into fruition yet.