New Beginnings

Southern Brooklyn has traditionally housed hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.  But up to the early 1990s, there was still surprisingly a paucity of arts and entertainment, nor were there any Russian-oriented arts performances in the area, although there was much demand and nostalgia among many Russians who had been exiled from their home countries for many decades. As word spread of the new dance organization in the community, senior citizen groups started to invite Brighton Ballet Theater Company to perform at a variety of Jewish, Russian and other festivals throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and beyond.  That's how Brighton Ballet established itself as the city's first and only Russian American dance company.

For early performances, the Brighton Ballet Theater Company relied on the expertise of several choreographers including Elizabeth Shipiatsky and Leonid Farber. The Company served as both a launching pad for many dance professionals and a home for esteemed teachers and dancers.