Orangeburg Civic Ballet
The Orangeburg Civic Ballet was established in 1993 by Tamalyn Blackman with 14 dancers in the company. Originally the company was known as the Orangeburg City Ballet and was housed at the Zimmerman Center in Orangeburg. In 1999 , the company moved to Tamalyn's Dance Center on Springdale Street in Orangeburg and the name was changed to the Orangeburg Civic Ballet (OCB).
The first ballet production the Orangeburg City Ballet participated in was the Nutcracker performed with the Junior Orangeburg Part Time Players. Joint productions continued for several years and in 1999 The Orangeburg Civic Ballet launched its first full length production of the Nutcracker. This production has grown and has become a favorite tradition for the Orangeburg community. In 1998 OCB presented its first spring performance, Alice in Wonderland. Since that time, the ballet company has performed Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland as well as Tammy and the Geek, a short ballet created for the Orangeburg Civic Ballet by Cammie Bunch Reid.
Spring productions have also included opportunities to highlight the versatility of the OCB dancers after being taught by guest choreographers and Master teachers. Company members have had opportunities to enrich and expand their dance education through master classes offered at various locations including Columbia and Charleston as well as in Orangeburg.
Today the Orangeburg Civic Ballet has grown to nearly 40 dancers aging from ages 8 through adult. School performances, appearances at various other venues including Piccolo Spoleto, Showcase Orangeburg and the North Charleston Arts Festival, have given the dancers opportunities both perform and enjoy classical ballet and other forms of dance.
VISION & MISSION
The Orangeburg Civic Ballet endeavors to bring cultural enrichment to Orangeburg County and the surrounding community by providing a performing outlet for dancers and cultivating a public awareness and appreciation of the arts.
Explore Related Categories
