Von Heidecke's School of The
Chicago Festival Ballet
:: Organizational History ::

Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet

Founded in 1989, Von Heidecke Festival Ballet (VHB) has steadily grown since its inception at Scotland’s prestigious Edinburgh Festival when Mr. von Heidecke received full funding from a grant from Chicago Artists Abroad. In December 1990, under the sponsorship of Discover Card and the Gaylord Donnelley Foundation, the DuPage Arts Center presented the VHB in its first full-length Nutcracker. Simultaneously, Mr. von Heidecke founded the Von Heidecke School of the VHB in order to offer the highest level of training in classical ballet with a faculty of reknowned international artists of the ballet world. The school and the company operate as two separate incorporations. The Nutcracker became an annual event both locally and on tour along with a repertoire. In 1992, Gary Lindsey Artists Services of San Francisco contacted the company and established itself as the touring agency, which represents the VHB for touring. Gary Lindsey represents over a dozen prestigious companies including Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Ballet California, etc. VHB has appeared repeatedly on the Illinois Arts Council's ARTSTOUR. The company presents annual productions of both its Nutcracker and Prokofiev's Cinderella throughout the State of Illinois and on tour. Additionally, the company collaborates with many Illinois artists and arts organizations such as; the Wheaton Symphony Orchestra ,the Danville Symphony Orchestra, the DuPage Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, & the New Philharmonic Orchestra in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Additionally, the company provides employment opportunities to artists residing within the State of Illinois at other national venues. Nationally, VHB dancers are featured at the San Diego Opera and the Dallas Opera regularly. VHB has annually toured its programming for 17 years throughout the United States. The company has gone as far North as Thunderbay, Ontario, Canada and as far East as West Virginia, as far West as Nebraska and as far South as the Jackie Gleason Theatre for the Performing Arts in Miami Beach, Florida where Mr. von Heidecke was given the Key to the City of Miami Beach on stage after a performance by the Mayor. The company performs a variety of other works in many ongoing collaborations with the New Philharmonic Orchestra. Annually, VHB performs with the New Philharmonic Orchestra in a New Year's Eve Gala at the McIninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Last year the company performed a Can-Can for the finale of the program, while this past year, internationally reknowned Hungarian opera singer, Viktoria Vizin, sang My Kind of Town with VHB performing a Broadway-style chorus line finale for the program. Last year, VHB collaborated with the DuPage Opera in performances of Hunperdinck's Hansel and Gretel to great success. Music Director and Conductor, Kirk Muspratt invited Mr. von Heidecke to choreograph a lecture demonstration for the orchestra's series called Kid's Boot Camp. The series is designed for children and adults alike. Von Heidecke and Muspratt presented a lecture demonstration on Stravinsky's Petrouchka for the children. VHB and the New Philharmonic are exploring and collaborating on numerous upcoming events to be presented to the communities they serve.

In 2006, VHB organized an annual gift to the organization called SEGUIN. SEGUIN is the largest organization in the State of Illinois, which serves the needs of the mentally handicapped. CFB organized the donation of 100 tickets to children, adults and the staff of SEGUIN to attend an evening performance of the Nutcracker immediately following their annual Christmas party for the mentally handicapped, the staff of administrators, and guardians.

The company has developed an ongoing relationship with Chicago Dance and now offers annual performances at the Athenaeum Theater in Chicago. Upcoming collaborations with Dance Chicago Director, John Schmitz are in the making. Additionally, the company has an ongoing relationship with GRPR, Ginny Richardson Public Relations. Already, the PR firm has substantially increased public awareness of VHB. GRPR has already won the Golden Trumpet Award 2 years in a row for the promotions they have done for the company.

Organizationally, the company is developing and broadening its understanding of self-promotion and marketing. VHB has been invited by the Chicago Festival Organization to participate annually in the McDonald's parade. McDonald’s, Pepsi Cola and other large sponsors, sponsors the Thanksgiving Parade. The nationally televised parade is viewed in millions of households across the United States. Chicago Festival Organization is collaborating with VHB and is offering promotions by the parade's major contributors. This relationship is brand new and VHB is excited about the explorations and potential new developments.

VHB is currently working with Kendra Hay of Columbia College's Arts Administrative Program. VHB is actively pursuing candidates for an internship in administrative skills, development, and grant writing. In 2008, VHB is planning a benefit featuring internationally reknowned artists of diversified areas in the rotunda of the historic Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL. It will be the first of an annual benefit tradition established to show many different artists in areas of opera, music, and dance.