About LCB —Its Vision, Goals, Activities and People.

Vision and Goals Statement: Denise Vogt, Artistic Director

Lakeville City Ballet introduces the art of high quality, professional-grade dance to Minnesota communities not typically served by Twin City groups, particularly those “South of the River.” By educating and enriching the lives of children and adults in our community, LCB provides first-hand exposure to the beautiful artistry, discipline and athleticism of ballet and other dance forms, through a series of high caliber performances ranging in style from classical to contemporary. The performances feature a mix of professionals and student performers and members of the community. Lakeville City Ballet also strives to provide support, encouragement and performance opportunities to all, by engaging in a variety of community outreach initiatives, scholarship awards, and dance experiences.

Lakeville City Ballet Activities and Events:

Outreach— LCB educates and interacts with children with Outreach "Mobile Shows" in the elementary school system. These shows incorporate Art, Dance, Music and History into appropriate presentations for the public schools in this area, using both students and professional dancers.

Nutcracker Ballet— LCB performs its flagship traditional, full-length production of Denise Vogt's Nutcracker Ballet to full houses each Thanksgiving weekend. Consisting of a cast of approximately 120, the Nutcracker is seen by an ever-increasing number of people—over two thousand audience members each year—and has become an annual holiday tradition for many.

LCB's Nutcracker had its origins as a school show directed by Denise Vogt and was presented for several years until 2002 through the school Dance Works Performing Arts Center in Lakeville. After the 2002 performances Lakeville City Ballet was created as a separate and independent non-profit company to enable Ms. Vogt, LCB's Board of Directors, and hundreds of volunteers, students, parents and the community to continue performing and expanding the scope and quality of The Nutcracker—LCB has been independently producing and performing the Nutcracker annually since 2003. Every year LCB has also performed a complimentary performance of The Nutcracker for the 4th Graders and Special Education students in our area.

Summer Dance Festival— As part LCB's community outreach goals, it annually sponsors and produces a summer program called A Summer Dance Festival . This program provides area students, schools and professionals with an additional opportunity to perform and share the art of dance in a non-competitive environment.

Student Dancer Recognition Scholarships— LCB awards scholarships/grants to eligible student dancers each year. The purpose of these scholarships is to recognize excellence in the art of dance by persons in our community, to provide financial support and tangible encouragement to young dancers so that their development might continue, and to identify area dancers who are dedicated to making dance training, education, and performance a central part of their lives.

Two Week Repertoire Program— In 2009 LCB conducted its first summer Two Week Repertoire Program, offering student dancers a taste of what it is like to be in an actual dance company. Each day dancers take a daily “company” class, then participate in focused rehearsals of a classical ballet piece. The pieces learned and rehearsed in the Program are then performed on stage as part of LCB's Summer Dance Festival.

Where to find Lakeville City Ballet:

LCB relies on the availability and generous donation of studio and office space by its sponsors. Currently LCB's official residence is at Ballet Royale Minnesota 's new premier facility in northern Lakeville, in the heart of the Minneapolis/St. Paul south metro area. Click on the “Ballet Royale Minnesota ” tab above for more details and directions to its studios.

About Denise Vogt, Artistic Director

Denise Vogt, Lakeville City Ballet's Artistic Director, trained in her native England under principal dancers from the English Royal Ballet and Ballet Rambert. She also studied theater, drama, and dance for three years at The London Studio Center, and was a finalist for the Tom Merryfield Award in London . Denise holds Associate Teaching Certificates from the Royal Academy of Dance in Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Ballet.

Denise began her professional dance career at the age of 19, when she left England and joined the Kiel Capitol City Theater Ballet in Germany . She spent the next seven years in Germany , where she also danced with the Osnabrück Contemporary Dance Theater and the Staatstheater Kassel Ballet. Denise danced in a wide range of ballets and contemporary pieces, including solo roles in such varied works as Peer Gynt , Swan Lake , Fancy Free , Nutcracker , Giselle , and as the young Isadora Duncan in Life of Isadora . She also performed in the stage musicals West Side Story , The Man from La Mancha , and Chicago .

Denise has taught master classes in England , Germany and Los Angeles . Since moving to the USA in 1989, Denise has taught at many Twin Cities schools, including the University of Minnesota , the Classical Ballet Academy of Minnesota in St. Paul , and the St. Paul Public School System. She was on the faculty at Ballet Arts Minnesota (now the Dance Institute) for twelve years, and taught company class for Minnesota Dance Theater in Minneapolis . From 1995 until 2009 Denise was the Director of Ballet at Dance Works Performing Arts Center in Lakeville. Denise is currently the Co-Director with her husband Rick of Ballet Royale Minnesota , the official residence of Lakeville City Ballet.

In addition to dancing and teaching, Denise has over twenty-five years' choreographic experience; she has choreographed over 60 pieces for both professional companies and schools, in England , Germany , and the USA . Denise has been the Artistic Director and primary choreographer of Lakeville City Ballet since its inception in 2003.

Corporate / Officers and Directors

Lakeville City Ballet is an independent non-profit arts organization consisting of dancers from area schools, sponsors of the community, and local professionals, dedicated to the artistic education and enrichment of members of Minnesota communities. LCB was incorporated in the state of Minnesota on July 29, 2003 , and is a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Supporters may deduct contributions to LCB as provided in section 170 of the Code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to LCB are deductible for Federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.

LCB’s Officers and Board of Directors (2009):

Denise Vogt, President, Artistic Director, and Board Member
Andrea Sjogren, Secretary and Board Member
Paul Atwell , Treasurer and Board Member
Rick Vogt, Board Chair and Member
Jackie Fritz, Board Member
Robin Kalal, Board Member
Jim Mihalek, Board Member
Kathy Maguire , Board Member
Jeanne Mork, Board Member