Dance Theatre of Bradenton is a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation formed in 2007 and dedicated to its mission of bringing education in the art of dance to Manatee County surrounding areas. Dance Theatre of Bradenton offers the finest training and performance opportunities for young and aspiring dancers bringing the finest classical and contemporary dance to Manatee County each year.

Artistic Director, Allison Norton

Allison Erwin Norton, a former soloist with Ballet Repertory and Ballet Guild of Jacksonville, Florida is Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Bradenton.

Ms. Norton trained under world renowned teachers such as John Field, Artistic Director of London Festival Ballet and Joint Director of England’s Royal Ballet; David Howard, ballet coach to international ballet celebrities including Mikail Baryshnikov; Robert Joffrey, Director of the Joffrey Ballet; Violette Verdy, Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet; Bill Martin Viscount, former member of the Bolshoi Ballet; Rebecca Wright, Director of the Washington Ballet; Jean Bedells, Royal Ballet dancer and daughter of a Royal Academy of Dance founder, Phyllis Bedells; plus more than forty other well known figures of the dance world. She began her classes with Mervyn Richard in Jacksonville, Florida and was mentored by Betty Swenson, Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance. Ms. Norton studied extensively at the Royal Academy of Dance, London England, The David Howard Dance Center, New York City, Robert Joffrey’s America Ballet Center, New York City, North Carolina School of the Arts and the School of the Atlanta Ballet. At the age of 13, Allison’s artistry and technique caught the attention of international dance author and critic Walter Terry who selected her as an “Honor Dancer” in the Southeast. While studying in London she was observed by Dame Margot Fonteyn and selected as one of only two American dancers to dance a solo role in the academy performance of “Sleeping Beauty” before the Lord Mayor of London.

In addition to classical ballet, Ms. Norton studied jazz, modern, lyrical and character technique. In jazz, she studied under national icons, Luigi, Charles Kelley and Gus Giordano. While studying in New York, she worked for academy award winning producer, Dino De Laurentiis, appeared in the film Night People and was selected by ABC for the FYI series. As a model and actress, she has appeared in numerous regional television commercials and was the poster and cover model for an antique motorcycle magazine, Vintage Mounts.

Ms. Norton has taught and choreographed extensively in Florida. She has been a teacher/choreographer in residence at Jacksonville University, a guest teacher for Dance Masters of America Florida Chapter, a consultant to the dance program at Lee Magnet Middle School for Arts and Communication, Daughtrey Elementary School and dance teacher in residence at Saint Stephens Episcopal Day School.

Former students of Ms. Norton have danced professionally in nationally recognized ballet companies, received scholarships to both professional schools and university, including Houston Ballet School, School of the Boston Ballet, School of the Miami City Ballet and Jacksonvlle University. Currently, former students are dancing with the Atlanta Festival Ballet and Metropolitan Opera in New York. In addition, her students have claimed prestigious awards such as Dance Magazine Award and Dance Masters of America titles of Miss Dance and Mr. Dance of Florida.