Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet

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Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet (SMB) began in 1973 as the Ballet Lyrique in the Shreveport–Bossier City area. It is now led by Kathryn McDowell. Each year, SMB puts on Fall for Dance!, working with other local dance groups. The company presents two full-length classical ballets annually: The Nutcracker during the holidays and a spring performance of another classical ballet. Audiences come from Shreveport–Bossier City and nearby areas in East Texas, southern Arkansas, and northern Louisiana. Every spring, dancers ages ten to adults audition openly to join SMB’s Junior, Senior Apprentice, and Senior companies. The organization gives dancers training and experience to pursue careers with other companies or to study dance in college. Guest artists have come from major companies such as the New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.