Ballet Chelsea chosen as Chelsea Chamber 2017 small business leadership award winner

Ballet Chelsea was recently awarded the 2017 Small Business Leadership Award winner. Jane Thompson, president of the board of directors, accepted the award.

Ballet Chelsea was chosen as the 2017 Small Business Leadership Award winner by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.

Students and staff at Ballet Chelsea were in their studio space Friday when members of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce arrived to surprise them with the news that they had been chosen as the 2017 Small Business Leadership Award winner.

Jane Thompson, president of the Ballet Chelsea board of directors, called the award “a wonderful surprise” and said it was “wonderful to be recognized by so many business people in Chelsea, who they might not know, but who know them.”

Ballet Chelsea at 1050 South Main St., “builds strong individuals through high caliber training and performance excellence while giving back to the audience that supports them through arts education and community outreach,” according to its website.

In fact, dancers travel to Chelsea from Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, and the surrounding areas in southeastern Michigan to take classes there.

Students and staff as Ballet Chelsea pose for a photo with chamber members following the announcement.

“We’re truly grateful to be part of a supportive arts community,” said Wendi DuBois, artistic director for Ballet Chelsea.

The Small Business Leadership award is given each year to a chamber member that has shown leadership in the following areas:

Displaying innovative ideas and services.
Contributing to the economic impact of the City of Chelsea.
Providing services that meet the needs of the Chelsea area community.
Enhancing the uniqueness of the community image.
Demonstrating leadership in their business category.
Supporting the activities of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce.

Leda Stimac and Patrick McCrae perform a lift at Ballet Chelsea.

Ballet Chelsea will be formally honored on Thursday, Feb.15, during the Annual Membership Meeting of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce at the Chelsea Comfort Inn and Village Conference Center.

In addition, the company will have a place of honor in the 2018 Chelsea Fair Parade.

DuBois said, Ballet Chelsea will present “a full-length comedic ballet” called “Coppélia” on March 23-24 at Chelsea High School.

According to the website, “Ballet Chelsea’s spring performance is Coppélia, a comic ballet based on a tale by E.T.A Hoffman. Hoffman also authored “The Nutcracker and The Mouse King” which is the story which our version of The Nutcracker is based on.”

For more information about Ballet Chelsea, please check out its website at www.balletchelsea.org or call 475-3070.