CBT makes additions to its dance programs

Although performing arts activities usually slow down in the summer, the Charleston Ballet Theatre has made two major additions to its dance programs.

Patricia Cantwell, co-artistic director of the CBT, has announced the group will open a satellite dance school on James Island on Sept. 8.

"This is our chance to reach out to Charleston Ballet Theatre families who are unable to travel to our home studio in downtown Charleston," says Cantwell, who is director of the school. "In this way, we can still provide CBT's high standard of excellent dance education."

The school, which Cantwell says will feature a fully equipped studio for dance students of all ages and ability levels, will be in the James Island Shopping Center at Maybank Highway and Folly Road.

Cantwell says the school will offer a variety of classes, including ballet, tap, jazz and Broadway-style dance. Master classes with the Charleston Ballet Theatre company artists will be taught throughout the school year for intermediate and advanced students.

Along with its home studio at 477 Meeting St., CBT also offers classes at 598 Belle Station in Mount Pleasant. On-site registration for the CBT school on James Island will be 4:30-7 p.m. To register by phone, call 720-8650.

In other news, the CBT has hired Paul Kaine, a nationally recognized art administrator, as a consultant/interim executive director. Kaine will assume his new position Sept. 15.

CBT resident choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr says, "The extensive six-month search to find Paul was well worth the wait. Though we had not previously met Paul, we had been very aware of his huge contributions to other ballet companies."

Cantwell adds, "Paul's ideas for the future of Charleston Ballet Theatre are both unique and stimulating."

A native of Seattle, Kaine gained experience working with Seattle theaters early on, especially in the field of lighting productions. From there, he went to New York, where he worked with a number of modern dance companies including those of Jose Limon, Twyla Tharp and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Kaine has amassed 23 years of technical experience in the performing arts and in the planning and execution of tours and residencies of companies traveling throughout North America, Europe, the Far East and South America. He also has provided lighting design and production management services to numerous ballet companies.

He was executive director with Ballet Austin in Texas and worked with the Nashville Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. He also served on the Tennessee Arts Commission Dance Advisory Panel and Texas Commission for the Arts Grants Advisory Panel, among other boards.

Kaine says he wants to "grasp audience members at an early age" and is pleased that, "unlike many cities, Charleston supports the arts in an extraordinary way."

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.