Ballet Theatre of Maryland

The Artist

Dianna Cuatto is in her fifteenth season as the Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Maryland in the 2017/18 season.  She has choreographed The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, An American Southwest Carmen, Beauty and the Beast, Tango Dramatico, Little Women and Excalibur, among others.   Previously, she spent four seasons as the Ballet Mistress with the Richmond Ballet and taught ballet and jazz in their school of dance. She was also Artistic Director/Choreographer/School Director of the Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre in Colorado where many alumni went on to pursue professional careers in such companies as San Francisco Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Hubbard Street, San Diego Ballet, Ballet Nouveau and Richmond Ballet. Prior to that, Ms. Cuatto taught classical ballet at San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Sacramento Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Theatre and Oklahoma Ballet. In addition, she has taught at the University of Oklahoma, University of Utah, California State University at Sacramento, and at several high schools for the performing arts.

“In my fifteenth season as Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s Artistic Director, I’m looking forward to continuing to produce high-caliber ballet performances that engage the mind and spirit and express Maryland’s unique voice through movement. My goal is to make ballet accessible to all while attaining ever higher levels of artistic excellence.

Please join us in celebrating 39 years of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and support us in our efforts to bring great dance to all Marylanders in the future.”

–Dianna Cuatto, Artistic Director

The Artistry

As Maryland’s premier professional ballet company, Ballet Theatre of Maryland has so much to celebrate: great classical dance, new and talented dancers, rising stars in their company, and many new classical and contemporary choreographic works.

As a professional company, BTM aims to inspire our audience through the transforming power of American dance. Energy, athleticism, dynamism and passion are classic American dance ideals that move their dancers to achieve higher levels of artistry and skill, whether through the drama of contemporary pieces or by making classic ballet storytelling come to life.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s school of Classical and Contemporary Dance is the only school in Maryland that offers a fully comprehensive ballet training program for the beginner student up to the professional dancer. Their focus on the healthy body aesthetic, healthy body types, and healthy mentoring is a hallmark of our school and company.

BTM’s mission is to provide Maryland with a fully professional ballet company and training academy that meets the aesthetic and recreational needs of Maryland through expressive movement by:

  • Performing known and original classical and contemporary works of artistic integrity;
  • Creating new eclectic works that express both American and Maryland culture;
  • Educating the community by providing a complete training program as well as other services that make the ballet more accessible to the under-served;
  • Preserving the tradition of the classical form, while promoting the continual evolution of dance as an art.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland produces high-caliber ballet performances that engage the mind and spirit and express Maryland’s unique voice through movement. They perform a wide range of powerful quality ballets at venues throughout the state. They conducts over 20 full-length professional ballet performances per season, perform in more than 40 outreach lecture/demonstrations in Maryland schools, and present 10 Mini-Performances for students and seniors.

In 2016 they were named as the resident ballet company of the Lyric Opera House, Baltimore’s 2500-seat landmark, in addition to continuing the company’s 39-year residency at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. BTM teaches and performs at a 10-week Arts Integration Residency in tandem with Anne Arundel County Schools and provides Access to Classics Outreach to introduce the art of dance to children and teachers,

They conduct a Trainee and Apprenticeship Training Program, attracting top dancers throughout the U.S. to train with Ballet Theatre of Maryland for the season while educating through Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s School of Classical and Contemporary Dance; offering dance training for students ages 2 to adult, beginner through professional level

The Nutcracker – Ballet Theatre of Maryland

Photo Credits: John Bildahl Photography, Donna L. Cole Photography, Nick Eckert Photography, David Lychenheim Photography, Mike Stukel, Meagan (Helman) Stukel, Dan Beigel Photography

Sponsor Opportunities

Contact NPAFE to find out how you can be recognized locally, regionally, and even nationally for your role in making these great performing arts events possible.

  • Snow White, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD, Friday, February 22, 2019, Saturday, February 23, Sunday, February 24.
  • 40th Anniversary “RUBY GALA”, Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, Sunday, March 10, 2019
  • Innovations 2019, a fantastic journey of works-new, old and bold as it presents Stravinsky’s beloved fairy tale: The Firebird. Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphonette” returns along with a new Stravinsky work, a new work by New York composer Kevin Keller and more. Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD, Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, 2019

What Others Say

“A gorgeous spectacle of storytelling through dance”

-DC Metro Arts

“Soak up the magic and become lost in the beautiful dancing and imagery of the story.”

-MD Theatre Guide

“‘The Nutcracker’ by the Ballet Theatre of Maryland is a beloved holiday tradition that is a must-see year after year.”

-MD Theatre Guide

“Who else but Dianna Cuatto, the Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s Artistic Director, could make a three hour ballet seem like a short dream that you never want to end?”

-Mark Beachy – MD Theatre Guide

“For the past three years, the Ballet Theatre of Maryland has performed an annual production of such classic ballets as “Swan Lake” at the Lyric that drew audiences of between 1,600 and 1,850. Not only has the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, which was founded in 1978, survived for 38 years when many other dance companies have crumpled, it’s been operating consistently in the black”

-Baltimore Sun

“Ms. Cuatto has done a fine job creating the choreography and casting its principal dancers, soloists and demi-soloists. These dancers, and the apprentices and trainees who rounded out the cast, performed with precision and pizzazz. They have clearly mastered their artistry of ballet, and dance with confidence and good cheer.”

-DC Metro Arts

“The large amount of dance content at an advanced level gives the ballet energy that flows from one scene to the next.”

-WMAR Baltimore

“Cuatto’s choreography is unique and engaging.”

-MD Theatre Guide

“Ballet Theatre of Maryland continues to stretch its legs across the state”

-Baltimore Sun