history                                    2010 Brochure - Part 1 & Part 2

In 2000, world-renowned dancer and director, Vasile Petrutiu, along with “Orlando ballerina” Heather Fryxell (formerly Heather Sanders), created Central Florida Ballet.  Mr. Petrutiu had come to Orlando to direct Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet), where Ms. Fryxell was the principal dancer.  Their common artistic goals led them to start their own dance organization made up of a school, the Ballet Academy of Central Florida, and a ballet company, Central Florida Ballet.

Opening the Academy: Upon it’s opening in the fall of 2000, the Ballet Academy had an enrollment of over 80 students and within one year, the student roster reached 300 and counting.  The quality of instruction offered at the Academy, under the guidance of Master Teacher, Vladimir Bykov, immediately made it one of the top dance schools in the area.  Already, students from the school have gone on to careers with San Francisco Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Louisville Ballet and Boston Ballet.

Since its inception, the Ballet Academy of Central Florida has grown in its instructional offerings with classes in ballet, pointe, variations, partnering, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap and character dance.  The Ballet Academy is also the only school in central Florida to offer dance instruction to children of special needs.  “Movement Mentor” created by Ms. Fryxell, is a one of a kind program in which Ms. Fryxell combined her dance experience with her education in psychology to create this unique and inspired program which has received national funding and recognition. 

The Academy offers additional opportunities for the aspiring young dancer.  An acclaimed intensive summer workshop which boasts guest teachers from around the world is hosted each year.  And yearly, dancers are coached and taken to top dance and ballet competitions in the country.  Students from the Ballet Academy of Central Florida have won awards at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition, World Ballet Competition, the American Ballet Competition, American Dance Competition, and more.

First Company Performances Wow Audiences: During the first year of the Academy, Mr. Petrutiu and Ms. Fryxell saw the need for a performance outlet, not only for their talented students but also for the many young dance professionals in the area who flocked to the Academy for class.  In August of 2001, Central Florida Ballet, a not for profit professional dance company, was formed and the first production, Tutus, Tango, and More, opened to sell-out audiences.  This young organization had already proven its potential in one year.  That December, Central Florida Ballet mounted The Nutcracker and its production, performed yearly since, has become the most popular Nutcracker in the area.  Under the choreographic expertise of Mr. Petrutiu, the production has received rave reviews, including being mentioned as one of the nation’s top Nutcrackers by CNN and USA Today Headlines News.

During the next three years, the Central Florida Ballet created student companies and grew its professional company with performances throughout its season such as On Centerstage, The Fairy Doll, Peter and the Wolf, Paquita, The Toy Shop, Carnival to Save the Animals and more.  The student company in various venues such as the amphitheatres at Lake Eola and Avalon Park, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, Winter Garden Theatre, and our home theater, the Linda B. Chapin at the Orange County Convention Center. In 2001, Informances, an outreach program for Orange County school children was introduced. Informances combine a short lecture and performance in one; bringing ballet to thousands of area children. 

New Shows Grab Attention: Introduces In 2004, Mr. Bykov was named artistic director.  Under the general direction of Mr. Petrutiu and the artistic direction of Mr. Bykov, Central Florida Ballet and the Ballet Academy of Central Florida continue to excel.  New ballets such as The Ugly Duckling and 911- An American Moment have been added to the companies’ repertoire and the Central Florida Ballet presented Giselle to rave reviews this year.  An active board has introduced popular annual fundraisers and local and state-wide grants have been awarded to CFB for its service to the community.

In 2007, The Nutcracker was named one of the Top 20 Events in the southeast region by the Southeast Tourism Society. The United Arts of Central Florida presented CFB an Excellence in Arts award for the inaugural World Ballet Competition and the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. recognized CFB for the premiere performance of “9/11 An American Moment”. 

Inaugurating the World Ballet Competition: In the summer of 2007, Vasile Petrutiu founded the World Ballet Competition (WBC). Since its inauguration, CFB has presented and hosted the WBC; most  recently completing the third highly acclaimed event in June of 2009. Over 80 pre-qualified competitors from all over the world came to Orlando in 2009 to compete for cash prizes and scholarships totaling over $100,000 in this unique competition which culminated in a star-studded gala, which includes winners of the competition among stars of Complexions Dance Company, Momix, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Corella Ballet of Spain, Carolina Ballet, Boston Ballet, Anti-Gravity, and more. With wide audience acclaim and numerous international features, the community has been buzzing with excitement about this enthralling event that has become a surprising treat for the Central Florida and is unlike any other.

Move. Be Moved. Be More: Over the years, Central Florida Ballet has been leading arts innovator in the community: being the first organization to use pyrotechnics in "The Nutcracker", the first to create a dance performance tribute to the lives lost and the heroes of the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, and presenting the first ballet competition (World Ballet Competition) to be entirely broadcast live on the internet. 

As Central Florida Ballet and the Ballet Academy of Central Florida enters their 10^th season, the companies, academy, and programs continue to  offer the best in dance performance, instruction, and opportunities to Central Florida residents and to dance lovers world-wide.