Spring Recital
Each spring, the students of Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance present a Spring Recital for free to the Topeka and surrounding community. These are on-stage public performances complete with costumes, open to all students.
For 2023, our spring recital will be presented Saturday, June 3 at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.
An Afternoon of Dance begins at 2:00pm. This recital features our elementary and children’s division dancers, along with some highlights from our student and adult division dancers.
An Evening of Dance begins at 5:00pm. This recital features our student and adult division dancers.
Join us for a wonderful day of dance!
Liturgical Dance
Liturgical classes are offered throughout the year at the studio, collectively called “For God’s Glory Dancers.” A Christmas and Easter performance is offered free of charge to the public at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Join us for a wonderful evening of worship through dance!
Christmas Performance: Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 7:30pm, Topeka Performing Arts Center
Easter Performance: Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 7:30pm, Topeka Performing Arts Center
Cleargold Worship Dance Ministry – This is our liturgical touring group for advanced ballet dancers. They are available to perform for any local church denomination or nursing home.
Ballet Midwest
Ballet Midwest, Inc. is our resident, civic ballet company. Ballet Midwest is a non-profit company independent of Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance. The common denominator is that Lacee Sandgren is artistic director of both, however Ballet Midwest is run by an independent Board of Directors. The company holds open auditions for area dancers each January for new company dancers ages 14 years and older. The junior company holds open auditions in February and accepts intermediate dancers from any studio ages 10 years and older. Ballet Midwest does not teach classes. Instead, company and junior company members promote the art of ballet in Topeka and surrounding communities through performances, lecture-demonstrations, and other creative community outreach events.
Ballet Midwest Performances
The Nutcracker Ballet
All ballet students are encouraged to audition for Ballet Midwest’s annual production of “Nutcracker Ballet.”
Rehearsals are held on weekends and do not interfere with regularly scheduled classes. Performance week, cast members are required to attend stage rehearsals Tuesday-Thursday and can expect to perform twice.
We encourage students to attend Ballet Midwest performances as part of your overall dance experience. Tickets for “Nutcracker Ballet” (December 9-11), “Once Upon a Ballet (April 15 at 1:30), and “Sleeping Beauty” (April 15 at 7:30 and April 16 at 1:30) will be available at the studio office as the performances approach.
Spring Ballet & My First Ballet
Every spring, Ballet Midwest company and junior company dancers bring the magic of a full-length classical ballet to Topeka! Attending these productions is a great way to experience the art of ballet right here in Topeka! The ballet rotates every year, so you will experience something new each season. Ballet Midwest will present the fairytale classic, “Sleeping Beauty” in 2023.
My First Ballet is a short, often narrated production that is perfect for a younger audience.
Tickets for “Once Upon a Ballet (April 15 at 1:30), and “Sleeping Beauty” (April 15 at 7:30 and April 16 at 1:30) will be available at the studio office as the performances approach.