1970
Robert Lindgren, Dean of Dance at Winston-Salem’s North Carolina School of the Arts, founds North Carolina Dance Theatre.
1981
Gian Carlo Menotti invites the company to perform at the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. & Spoletto, Italy. Both programs earn rave reviews.
1982
National Endowment for the Arts names Dance Theatre the nation’s highest rated touring company.
1984
Dance Theatre debuts its first fully self-produced full-length ballet, Robert Vesak’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
1985
Salvatore Aiello becomes
Artistic Director.
1990
Aiello moves the company to Charlotte realizing his dream of support for a new Nutcracker and a school. Jerri Kumery joins company as répétiteur.
1993
Dance Theatre begins receiving ongoing support from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts & Science Council and opens official school. Aiello creates Rite of Spring.
1995
Dance Theatre returns to Spoleto Festival U.S.A. then suffers tragic loss of Artistic Director Salvatore Aiello.
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1996
Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride arrive as Artistic Director and Co-Associate Artistic Director.
1999
Arts & Science Council awards Dance Theatre the coveted “Advancement of Excellence Grant” based on quality of professional programming, artistic vision, and ability to make the strongest artistic advancement.
2000
Bonnefoux creates a second company of professional dancers, NC Dance Theatre 2.
2004
Bonnefoux and company return to Joyce Theater where his Shindig earns The New York Times praise “lickety-split technique.”
2005
Moved into our new facility at
622 East 28th Street in NoDa.
2006
Dwight Rhoden, co-director and founder of Complexions Dance Company, becomes resident choreographer of NC Dance Theatre.
2007
Implemented by the North Carolina Arts Council, NC Dance Theatre was chosen to participate in cARTwheels, an art touring program for elementary school children in predominantly rural counties.
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