Hathaway Academy of Ballet Interview with Kirt Hathaway

The Hathaway Academy of Ballet is located in the heart of Collin County, Texas. The school serves the Collin County communities and the North Dallas area. Not only has it become one of the premier ballet academies in the North Texas region, but it is the official academy for the Collin County Ballet Theater. The academy has a pre-professional training program preparing the dancers for main stage performances. They have a methodical and kinesthetic approach to the training of the students with an emphasis on the proper fundamentals and principles of the ballet technique, “Lessons of a Lifetime.”

In the opinion of Kirt Hathaway, one of the Directors, the main thing separating their studio from other studios is their professional staff and faculty who bring their experiences to the students.  Their excellent staff is pleased to be a part of young student’s dance education. They hope that their experience and knowledge will inspire the joy of dance for all the students in the academy. The wonderful adventure in dance will be so rewarding and meaningful for a lifetime. “The students will always be given the appropriate tools for them to enjoy their dance while at the same time properly developing a high level of technical proficiency. It is proven that children actively involved in dance arts education develop a great understanding of self-expression, better respect for discipline and a positive feeling of self-worth.”

When asked what has been the proudest moment of his coaching career, Kirt replied that the moments are ongoing and the pleasure comes from seeing dancers mature and technically develop. What makes them proud is when they see the students utilize the tools that they provided them as young artists.

Kirt believes that the mistakes dancers make are not necessarily from them as a student but sometimes they come from improper instruction. But as far as the dancers themselves, they sometimes become impatient and go for quantity and forsake quality. This will not help them in the professional arena where quality is the most important thing. The Hathaway Academy has a passionate commitment quality in the art of dance and set high standards on the program.

Hathaway’s goals are to make sure that they continue to grow as instructors with syllabus and curriculum study.

Both Kirt and Linda Hathaway, the directors and founders of Hathaway Academy of Ballet, are former members of the original Dallas Ballet. Between them, their extensive professional dancing and teaching careers span over thirty years and has lead them throughout the United States and abroad. When they started a family, they realized that in order to remain in the field of their professional careers it might be more secure to have a ballet academy. As a result, they opened the academy in June, 2001 and has since grown to a student body of over 300 students. Kirt and Linda believe that although it has not been an easy feat at all, it has been, and is, rewarding.

Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Hathaway Academy of Ballet or Kirt Hathaway.

If you would like to learn more about the Hathaway Academy of Ballet, check them out on their website at http://www.hathawayballet.comor phone them at 972-747-0600.