CTAC School of Ballet Residency Program Brings Professional Choreographic Mentors to Petoskey
Free Sneak Peak Performance held Aug. 29 at Bay View’s John Hall Auditorium

PETOSKEY, Mich. — As the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) School of Ballet concludes its summer programming, the school will host its second annual Choreographic Mentorship Residency beginning Aug. 25. This year’s resident mentors are Robin Pettersen, faculty emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, and Richard Walters, rehearsal director and school principal with Madison Ballet. The pair will work with pre-professional dancers to refine their original choreography.

An informal showing of several student works will take place Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at John M. Hall Auditorium in Bay View. The event is free and open to the public. The original choreographies created during the residency will premiere at the 18th annual Fall for Dance on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. at the Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center.

Pettersen and Walters will mentor about eight student choreographers, guiding them through approximately 80 hours of rehearsal over the course of the week. In addition to the School of Ballet studios, the Bay View Association is providing three rehearsal spaces in support of the residency.

“Our pre-professional students receive a uniquely comprehensive dance education at the School of Ballet,” said Heather Raue, artistic director of the CTAC School of Ballet. “It has been a goal of mine to additionally provide them with a mentored choreographic experience. It is such a privilege to have Robin and Richard share their wisdom, talents and expertise with our students.”

While in residence, Pettersen and Walters will also create their own choreographic works for the pre-professional dancers. These pieces will premiere alongside the student works during Fall for Dance 2025. Pettersen has been creating work for the school’s Fall for Dance productions since 2014.

“Working with the School of Ballet students is always such a pleasure,” Pettersen said. “They are beautifully trained dancers who exhibit discipline, respect and a willingness to stretch themselves artistically.”

The 2025 Choreographic Mentorship Residency at the CTAC School of Ballet is funded by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Zonta Club of Petoskey.

Tickets for Fall for Dance will go on sale in mid-September at www.crookedtree.org/ballet

Images provided by CTAC School of Ballet:

About Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet: Founded in 2003 by Artistic Director Heather Raue, the CTAC School of Ballet trains young people for professional careers in dance. The School of Ballet has a long legacy of outstanding training in ballet as well as serious contemporary styles and the emerging field of dance film. Former students have danced professionally in major American companies, attended prestigious BFA and MFA programs and excelled in other dance-related careers.

Media Contact:
Keely Bomee Platte, Marketing & Communications Manager
Crooked Tree Arts Center
231-550-6868 | keely@crookedtree.org

Crooked Tree Arts Center
461 E. Mitchell St.
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-4337
www.crookedtree.org