A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

Bristol Ballet on its toes since 1948

Constance Hardinge started Bristol Ballet in 1948 to train young people in the art of dance. She founded a performing company in 1959, comprised of 12 dancers.

In This Issue

• Highlands Ballet creates original full-length ballets for the region Deanna Cole-Roberts, founder and artistic director, of Highlands Ballet Company, began her ballet training over a pool hall known as Babe's in Bristol, Virginia.
• Kingsport Ballet provides instruction and performances for 32 years Kingsport Ballet has operated in downtown Kingsport, Tennessee for 32 years.
• Regional poetry celebration to be held at Abingdon library The Friends of the Washington County Public Library present a Celebration of Regional Poetry as part of its Sunday with Friends literary series, Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m., at the library in Abingdon, Va.
• Arts for Youth Spotlight Madyson Kent spends five days a week in class and hours in the studio furthering her study of ballet.
• Arts Achievement Awards winners announced The Arts Alliance Mountain Empire announces the winners of its first Arts Achievement Awards. The awards are designed to recognize five individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the Tri-Cities region.
• E&H theater professor honored Dr. Kelly Bremner, an Emory & Henry College theater professor, has been named a finalist for the 2015 "Rising Star" Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.
• AAME gala honors award winners The Arts Alliance Mountain Empire holds its annual gala May 16 at 6 p.m., at the Holiday Inn in Bristol, Virginia.

A! Extra

• Eric Cunningham in book about self-taught art Eric Cunningham of Bristol, Tenn., is one of 32 artists featured in the recently published book "When the Spirit Speaks: Self-Taught Art of the South" by Margaret Day Allen.
• Communities Making Crooked Road's Mountains of Music Homecoming a promising reality Region-wide community involvement and strong support from sponsors are shaping up to make The Crooked Road's first Mountains of Music Homecoming, June 12-20, a memorable experience.
• The Virginia Highlands Festival announces creators of this year's signature art The Virginia Highlands Festival announces this year's signature art and theme for the festival, "Create Your Own Adventure."
• 'EVOXE' wins local, regional Addy awards An interactive digital publication focused on the arts created by students and overseen by faculty at East Tennessee State University brought home the "Student Best of Show" award from the American Advertising Federation of Northeast Tennessee.
• BCMM wins awards Birthplace of Country Music Museum has earned a number of awards from the Tennessee Association of Museums and the Tri-Cities Branch of the Associated General Contractors of Tennessee.
• Winners Announced: Jonesborough Third Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition The McKinney Center of Jonesborough recently hosted a reception announcing the winners of the Third Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition of 2015.
• Artist comes full circle after horrific accident Since she was a child growing up in Finland, Anna Nenonen has been drawn to two things: art and horses. Whether she was painting or drawing, she always had a natural flair for art, and was called a child prodigy by those who knew her.
• Dr. Ted Olson's project receives award Dr. Ted Olson, an East Tennessee State University faculty member in Appalachian Studies, served as co-producer and co-writer of the liner notes for the Bear Family Records' boxed set of "The Johnson City Sessions 1928-1929: Can You Sing or Play Old-Time M
• ETSU's Dr. Jesse Graves wins Weatherford Award in Poetry
• Wentt and Phan Named as Finalists in Photography Magazine Contest; Wor King University seniors are finalist in this year's 35th Annual College and High School Photography Contest.