About Us
Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company
was founded in 1972 by Ronald Pratt, along with Miriam Greaves and Dolores
Vanison-Blakely. The Company's purpose was to expand opportunities for minority
choreographers and dancers.
In its early history, the Company maintained a space on the Lower East Side of Manhattan
providing free dance classes to children in the community. With the success of the
program, it expanded to include children citywide. Today, Alpha Omega continues to reach
inner city children by introducing and training them in various styles of dance. The
Company provides introductory and intermediate dance classes at several New York City
schools and maintains the Alpha Omega Young Adult Workshop for advanced students at a
pre-professional level. These promising students are given opportunities to perform and to
learn the business of an arts organization.
The professional dance company developed from the Young Adult Workshop and is now known as
Alpha Omega Dance. It consists of talented and dedicated dancers of various cultural and
training backgrounds. The repertory Company performs the works of new and established
choreographers. The Company performs at a variety of venues including schools, community
centers, festivals and special events. Performances throughout New York City schools reach
children who for socio-economic reasons may not otherwise have the opportunity to
experience performance art. The Company's repertoire consists of themes that relate to
students' every day lives and provides alternatives that may help them resolve their daily
dilemmas. Following the Company's school performances, a question-and-answer period is
held to give students an opportunity to learn more about the Company, the artists and the
ballets.
Alpha Omega Dance has sustained many successes despite the untimely passing of its founder
and original artistic director Ronald Pratt in 1987. The Company has produced many
teachers and supporters of the arts including current Board Members, the Associate
Director and the Artistic Director. Under the artistic direction of Enrique Cruz DeJesus,
Alpha Omega Dance continues its commitment to children and audiences providing them with
learning, nurturing, entertaining, and cultural experiences.
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