It’s a Building for Arts--Not Sports

City officials and community members turned their attention to the arts Wednesday night, with the official opening of Anaheim’s Cultural Arts Center on Lincoln Avenue.

The center will provide a home and studio space for the Anaheim Ballet and office and storage space for the Anaheim Arts Council.

The city has distinguished itself with its sports teams and entertainment facilities, but thus far, the arts have played a less prominent role. But to the delight of many, the presence of a ballet company, a space dedicated to overseeing the arts and the upcoming development of a citywide cultural plan, begins to change that.

“There is no great city without the arts, and there is no great city that doesn’t build on its cultural heritage,” said Councilwoman Shirley McCracken.

The Anaheim Ballet has been in the city for 2 1/2 years but until last year had no permanent facility. When the building on Lincoln Avenue became available, the city agreed to help transform the space into ballet studios and office space for the Arts Council. The end result is a facility that has two large and two small dance studios for classes and office and storage space for the Arts Council.

Anaheim Ballet company members gave guests a taste of their skills at Wednesday night’s reception, performing a short segment of the “Nutcracker” and a pas de deux called “Rwanda Remembered,” choreographed by Sarma Rosenberg, one of the company’s artistic directors.

Anaheim Ballet has only 12 company members and no permanent performing theater. The company tours with its version of the “Nutcracker” and gives an annual summer performance but otherwise has no regular season.

But though the company is a minor one, says Lawrence Rosenberg, Anaheim Ballet’s other artistic director, the troupe and their new studios serve other important purposes. Last Sunday, about 300 dancers auditioned for the American Ballet Theatre’s elite summer workshop at the center.

Anaheim Ballet’s daily classes give youth and adults in Anaheim the opportunity to practice an exhilarating art form. The ballet company offers scholarships.

Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.