The History of
The Jasper School of Dance
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Founded in 1966
by Arlene Golden Gilbert, the school was known as The Classical Ballet Studio. It was a
ballet school, located in Woonsocket, RI, and it became an established training ground for
aspiring young dancers eager to meet the challenges of the school’s professional
standards. The annual presentations throughout the late 1970's included full-length
ballets and champagne galas at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket - quoted in The
Woonsocket Call under 'off the beaten path' as “attracting larger and larger
audiences” and as “a breath of fresh air.”
With the success of A Chorus Line, the early 1980’s triggered a resurgence of
enthusiasm in Broadway-style dancing. The Classical Ballet Studio expanded its curriculum
to include tap, jazz and lyrical, and the school was renamed to The Dance Center. A senior
resident dance troupe was formed called The Classical Ensemble, and a youth troupe called
the Off Broadway Babies. In the decade to follow, the school’s productions were the
annual series of “Off Broadway,” which continued through the early 1990’s,
when shows in concert began their eclectic repertoire in 1992.
Throughout the history of the school, performances have been constant in support
of charitable organizations and community activities. These have included the Beethoven
Club, Hadassah, Mount St. Charles Academy, the Milk Fund, the Woonsocket Hospital Aid
Association, the Northern RI Chapter for Mentally Retarded Citizens, the Burrillville Arts
Festival, the Northern RI Council of the Arts, Autumnfest, the American Heart Association,
the AIDS Walk for Life and many more.
In 1995, under the wing of The Dance Center, The JASPER Ballet was formed
- a nonprofit ballet company dedicated to raising awareness and funds in
the fight against AIDS. The troupe was founded in memory of Arlene
Gilbert's brother, Alan Golden, and was named for his dog, Jasper. That
season, The Dance Center relocated to Cumberland, RI, where it continues to
cultivate the artistic development of young dancers, now under the name The
Jasper School of Dance.
(click on any photo for full size version)
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