Buffalo’s Dance Community: Reimaging, Restoring, Celebrating

Buffalo, New York has a celebrated history for its repertoire of outstanding music and musicians, visual arts and artists, and superb theater. But, it’s important not to overlook dance and dancers in the Queen City. Over the years many of you may have heard folks talking about Buffalo City Ballet, Gemini Dance Company, Empire State Ballet, Pick of the Crop Dance, Festival Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Miss Barbara’s School of Dance, Matthew Clark’s Dance Academy, Buffalo Ballet Theater, Neglia Ballet, and Floorplay, among others. Then, beginning in the 1990s there was a major shift in the region’s dance community driven by shortfalls in funding, and large presenting venues deciding to bring in big names that could command higher ticket prices to offset the funding losses. As a result, the dance community started falling into chaos and in-fighting over funding. Only the most determined survived. In this instance, Buffalo City Ballet, aka Buffalo Inner City Ballet, shook off the dust, buckled down and continued working. As of this date, it remains the longest running ballet company in the region, operating under the direction of a classically trained African American executive director, Marvin Askew. Buffalo City Ballet can legitimately be recognized as a cornerstone of this region’s dance cathedral. The luster of other ensembles such as Empire State Ballet, Buffalo Ballet Theater, Gemini Dance, Floorplay, and Pick of the Crop has worn off and fallen into a heap of beloved memories.

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