Birmingham Ballet is a mulit-faceted organization.

Birmingham Ballet is a multi-faceted organization with a world class academy, a professional repertory company,

a community ballet and a community outreach program. Our mission, as a self-sustaining community arts organization for

the city of Birmingham is to provide quality professional dance performances, a professional training ground for aspiring talent,

and cultural enrichment and outreach to our community using the language of dance.

Birmingham Ballet’s vision is to bring new levels of excellence to ballet –

both on and offstage in training and in performances.

Cindy Free, founding Executive and Artistic Director, began her dance training in Canton, Ohio under teacher and mother Suanne Ferguson. She first
appeared with the Canton Civic Ballet under direction of John Begg. Upon moving to Birmingham, she performed professionally as the youngest member
of the Birmingham Ballet directed by Alfonso Figueroa. Throughout her career she studied with many notable teachers including Robert Joffrey, Robert
Barnett, and Gus Giordono. She attended the prestigious College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and Birmingham-Southern College. In 2012, Ms.
Free received certification in teaching methodology from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. In addition, she has been recognized by the
National Ballet of Canada for completion of continuing education teacher training. Mrs. Free toured internationally with Up With People before she
returned once again to the Birmingham stage with the Alabama Ballet Theatre. Mrs. Free has a heart for developing dancers and giving them the training
and opportunities they need to achieve excellence. In 1991, she co-founded Birmingham Ballet Academy along with Suanne Ferguson and Janet
Wolnski. In 1996, she established the semi-professional performing company, Birmingham Ballet, which has since given thousands of young dancers
opportunity to perform in professionally produced productions. In 2009, she founded the professional Birmingham Ballet Repertory Company as a re-
establishment of the original Birmingham Ballet from her heritage. The Repertory Company presents an eclectic repertoire of professional works by Mrs.
Free as well as emerging choreographers. The Repertory Company also gives advanced students from the Academy the important opportunity to
apprentice next to professional dancers. Her students have received numerous honors including acceptance into highly competitive training programs
with American Ballet Theatre - NYC, School of American Ballet - NYC, and the Russian Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Mrs. Free is known for creating
visually stimulating productions that are “more than dance.” Her talent has been recognized with various awards including

Cindy Free, founding Executive and Artistic Director

Katherine McDorman, Registrar/Backstage Coordinator

Stephanie Corwin, Community Relations

Suanne Ferguson, Teaching Faculty

Beth Hughes, Teaching Faculty

Whitney Renfroe, Teaching Faculty, HOPE Outreach Coordinator

Katie Shelton, Teaching Faculty

Ashley Warren, Teaching Faculty

Birmingham Ballet is the trade name of (S Corporation) BBA, Inc. - a self-sustaining community arts organization.