Our history and mission
Founded in 1980, Hawaiʻi Ballet Theatre is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing and presenting professional dance for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Our mission is to create performances that inspire and educate, to develop young artists’ full potential, and to enhance the cultural dynamic of our islands.
The company has a diverse repertory of nearly 60 original works, including 16 evening-length ballets and a popular series of youth concerts enjoyed by thousands of elementary school students. HBT’s annual presentation of The Nutcracker has been a Christmas tradition for Honolulu audiences for almost 40 years. The production involves local professional dancers, mainland and international guest artists, and more than a hundred students from dance studios across the island. The Honolulu Advertiser has praised HBT’s Nutcracker as "grand...full of energy and excitement...does what good ballet should do...leaves us cleansed and ennobled...."
HBT’s colorful history includes performances across Oʻahu, as well as tours to the neighbor islands and continental U.S. It has danced with the Honolulu Symphony, the Royal Hawaiian Band, the Spring Wind Quintet, and others. It has extensive experience in both classical and contemporary programming in a wide variety of performance spaces, including concert halls, gymnasiums, public parks, hotels, and at the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Shell.
Our future
In 2022, the company expands its reach with HBT Studios, a home for aspiring young artists to hone their skills in ballet, jazz, musical theatre, tap and hip hop. Through training and performance, we encourage students to develop confidence, discipline, respect for self and community, and an abiding love of the arts. Our dedicated, passionate faculty is some of the best on the island, with decades of performance and teaching experience. We will offer a broad range of classes for all ages and levels, providing a welcome space for beginners, professional-level technique for advanced dancers, and everything in between. In addition to fall, spring and summer sessions, our offerings will include open and master classes, workshops, and two large-scale dance productions each year.
Hawaii Ballet Theatre is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Repertory
Full-length ballets
A Midsummer Night's Dream (W. Ige 1981, rechoreog. L. Blake 1990) Felix Mendelssohn
The Nutcracker (W. Ige & C. Ing 1983, rechoreog. L. Blake & C. Ing 1989, 1991) Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Cinderella (W. Ige, 1984, rechoreog. L. Blake 1995) Sergei Prokofiev
Hansel & Gretel (W. Ige & C. Ing 1985) Gustav Mahler, Engelbert Humperdinck, Johann Strauss
Coppelia (W. Ige & C. Ing after F. Franklin 1986) Léo Delibes
Alice in Wonderland (L. Blake 1988) André Messager, Rossini arr. Benjamin Britten
Scheherazade (R. Dickinson 1991) Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Snow White (R. Dickinson 1993) Alexander Glasunov
One-act ballets
A Toyshop Fantasy (adap. "La Boutique Fantasque," W. Ige 1981) Rossini-Resphigi
Pekelo and Pua'a (adap. "Peter & the Wolf," W. Ige 1983) Sergei Prokofiev
Gift of the Narcissus (W. Ige 1984) trad. Chinese, Holst
Ka Manu Ahi (The Firebird) (W. Ige & P. Franz 1987, rechoreog. R. Dickinson 1992) Igor Stravinsky
Pinocchio (L. Blake 1989) Rossini-Resphigi, Rossini
The Ice King (C. Ing 2000) Dmitri Shostakovich
Momotaro and the Peach Girl (C. Ing 2002) Claude Debussy
Shorter works
Still (W. Ige 1980) The Commodores
Legend of Papa & Wakea (W. Ige 1981) Keola & Kapono Beamer
Olomana Suite (E. Morgan 1981) Jerry Santos
Ragamajazz (W. Ige 1983) Scott Joplin
Les Patineurs (W. Ige 1983) Giacomo Meyerbeer
Excerpts from Prince Igor (W. Ige 1985) Alexander Borodin
Onyx (L. Blake 1988) Frederic Chopin
Strings in G (L. Blake 1989) Claude Debussy
Astaire! (J. Rampage 1989) Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, others
Star-Spangled Sousa (L. Blake 1991) John Philip Sousa
Prairie Women (J. Rampage 1992) V. Thomson & trad. American
Tango del Barrio (L. Blake 1993) Villoldo, Gould, Piazzola, others
Eight by Benny (H. Poll 1992, staged by R. Dickinson 1997) Benny Goodman
Boat Days (A. Sakaguchi 2002) Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, John Coltrane
Preservation of the Magic (A. Chang 2022) Poem by Rachel Waggoner; music by Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin)
Cleanse (C. Katsuyoshi restaged 2022) Rodrigo y Gabriela
Fly Me to the Moon (A. Sakaguchi 2022) Frank Sinatra