The Appalachian Ballet Company is the resident dance company of the Clayton Center for the Arts.
ABC is East Tennessee's premier classical performing company that makes its home at Van Metre School of Dance in Maryville, Tennessee. Chartered in 1972, ABC's talented company of dancers performs an annual three-program season, providing the region with the highest quality dance performances. ABC offers a wide repertory from traditional classics to creative contemporary ballets and regularly performs with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Youth Symphony, and the Knoxville Opera Company. The company also collaborates with area performing arts groups and is active in educational outreach.
ABC's mission is three-fold:
- To provide young dancers with the highest caliber of classical training and performing opportunities.
- To produce a first-class season of classical and contemporary ballets showcasing local artists and encouraging collaboration among the area performing arts.
- To promote and foster a love and appreciation of the arts through performances and lecture demonstrations within the community.
Under Founding Artistic Director Cheryl Van Metre, the company developed a strong foundation in classical technique and a repertoire comprised of many great classics. In 1989, the company was accepted into Regional Dance America's (RDA) Southeast Regional Ballet Association (SERBA) and made the prestigious level of Honor Company in just three years.
Presently, under the artistic direction of Amy Moore Morton, ABC has kept up its strong tradition of classical repertoire while developing an innovative contemporary repertory to match. After over 20 years as a talented dancer, teacher and choreographer, Ms. Morton has served as artistic director of ABC since 1997. Ms. Morton is the current (2010-2011) president of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association. The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts named Amy Morton the 2009 teacher of the year. She has also received the Individual Artist Fellowship from the Tennessee Arts Commission.
