Celebrating Over 30 Years ...
Garden City Ballet (GCB) is the home of Missoula's very own production of The Nutcracker. We proudly offer this holiday tradition and are lucky to work with outstanding performers and their families, as well as exceptional teachers, choreographers and guest artists from across the region and country. GCB does not operate its own dance studio. Instead, we invite all dancers, regardless of studio affiliation, to audition for what has become a treasured community event!
Audition Boot Camp - Summer Ballet Workshop!
All Advanced and Intermediate dancers, ages 13 and older, are invited.
New time for Week One is 6:00 - 8:00pm!
CLICK HERE for the registration form and details.
Early registration deadline: June 30
(Registration fee of $20 applies after July 1)
2018 Nutcracker - Open Auditions
From the menu bar, go to The Nutcracker, then Auditions, and you will find a "CLICK HERE to register online" link towards the top of the page. There is also important information to download from the audition flier.
2018 Scholarship Program
Congratulations to the following dancers who received a GCB scholarship for summer workshops:
Sophia Cowmey
Audrey Kurz
Sylvie Nelson
Grace Nolan
Lydia West
Veteran Nutcracker Choreographer to be New Artistic Director
Following a competitive hiring process, the GCB Board of Directors is pleased to announce Jordan Dehline Burt as the new Artistic Director. Dehline Burt has choreographed for six GCB Nutcracker seasons, and grew up dancing every year in her hometown's production of The Nutcracker. She will take over from Michele Antonioli, who is well known for her commitment to nurturing young dancers and collaborating with the entire local dance community.
“It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as Artistic Director for the Garden City Ballet production of The Nutcracker these past four years. I am excited, however, that Jordan will have the opportunity to share her vision and talent — we are all ready for an infusion of new ideas and inspiration, and look forward to future productions under her expert guidance.” — Michele Antonioli
Dehline Burt works in the Missoula County Public Schools as a Dance Teaching Artist for SPARK!, which has allowed her to build relationships with students all over Missoula. She is also on faculty at Ballet Arts Academy (BAA), is Co-Artistic Director of BAA's Studio Company, and serves as the studio's Office Manager.
"As the new Artistic Director, I am excited to grow and continue the legacy of this extraordinary nonprofit organization. I am thrilled to work with the outstanding staff, board members, families, and students on the newest installment of The Nutcracker and am looking forward to fostering this community tradition." — Jordan Dehline Burt
The GCB Board of Directors invited a representative from every local dance studio to serve as a peer reviewer for this hiring process, and would like to thank the following individuals who volunteered:
- Heather Adams (Downtown Dance Collective)
- Nicole Bradley Browning (UM School of Theatre & Dance)
- Lisa Deer (On Center Performing Arts)
- Lindsey Schwickert (Ballet Arts Academy)
Raising Funds for the School Show
GCB has a proud tradition of funding a school performance (K - 8th grade) for Missoula and surrounding area children who might not otherwise have exposure to classical ballet and the performing arts. To offset the cost of this special Friday matinee show, we reach out to our community and raise funds each year. GCB is grateful to our donors who make holiday dreams come true! (For more information, please visit our Fundraising page.)
School Show
A big thanks to Missy Adams and Brandy Reinhardt for organizing the 2017 free matinee performance for out of town schools!
The school show audience included:
- Superior (80 from 3rd, 4th, 5th)
- Trout Creek (60)
- Florence (119 from 2nd and 3rd)
- Clinton (50)
- Seeley Lake (120)
- Corvallis (99)
- Lolo - Home School (7)
Thank You 2017 Donors!
Choreographer’s Council ($3000 - $4999)
Logjam Presents
Dancer’s Club ($2000 - $2999)
Ballet Arts Academy (rehearsal studios* )
Southgate Mall
Principal ($1000 - $1999)
Advanced Imaging
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel / Finn & Porter (lodging*)
Habitat Floral Studio (flowers*)
Northwest Plastic Surgery Associates, PLLC
NorthWestern Energy
Loreen L. and James S. Pettit
Poteet Construction
Rococo Formal & Bridal Wear (tuxedos*)
Max & Betty Swanson Foundation
Soloist ($500 - $999)
Advanced Technology Group
Alpine Physical Therapy
Bellemah Vein Center
Caffe Dolce
Caras Property Management
Children’s Dentistry of the Rockies
Dennehy Orthodontics
Drum Coffee
First Security Bank
Julie Gardner Properties
Garlington, Lohn & Robinson
Good Food Store
Kenworthy Orthodontics
Knife River
Nancy and Ron Kurz
Mismo Gymnastics
Missoula Bone & Joint
On Center Performing Arts
PCI Electrical
Lee Pielaet & Lori Stevens
Red Phone Solutions
Republic Services, Inc.
Matt Rosbarsky, Clark Fork Realty
The Special K's
St. Patrick Hospital (trucks for moving sets*)
Sussex School
Sustainable Building Design - Lucas Dupuis
John West, Attorney at Law
Western Montana Clinic
Corps de Ballet ($100 - $499)
Alter Enterprises, LLC
Best Western Plus (lodging*)
Boyle, Deveny & Meyer
Susan Curtis
First Interstate Bank
Garden City Funeral Home
Deborah & Tod Gass
Granite Peak Orthodontics
The Headley-Furrow Family
Bob King - State Farm Insurance Agency
Les Schwab Tire Centers
Meng Dentistry
Missoula Dental Arts
Missoula Pediatric Dentistry
Montana Trout Outfitters
The Priske Family
Rocky Mountain Surgical Solutions
Tess Rosbarsky
Kelly Sax Certified Public Accountant
Show Tyme Academy
The Size Family
Bonnie & Chris Smith
Twin Cranes Dental Group
Barre (up to $99)
The Gibbons Family
Kasey Harbine
Angela Harrington
The Headley-Furrow Family
Crystal Herzog
Jessica Murray
Charlotte Nelson
Olsen and Peters Dentistry
Cathy Richman
Rhea Smith
U-Haul (truck for moving sets*)
Stephanie Wallace
Juston West
(*in kind donation)
Nutcracker Photo Gallery
GCB has posted production photos from 2016 and 2017. The gallery is password-protected. If you are part of the Nutcracker family (current or alumni), please contact (info@gardencityballet.org) for a link and password to the gallery. Digital, high-resolution downloads are available for purchase. Past production years will be added as well, dating back to 2011.