David Herriott returns to head Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre

David Herriott, native Huntsvillian and well known in the arts community, is moving with his family back to Huntsville this summer after having spent five years as the Artistic Director of Columbus Ballet in Columbus, GA. Herriott has been working with AYBT on a part time basis for the past three years and will now come in as the full time Artistic and Executive Director of Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre.

AYBT will open its 4th season to holiday audiences with The Nutcracker: A Yuletide Ballet in early December. While the name may be new, the company is richly steeped in Huntsville tradition. Artistic Directors David Herriott (who dances the part of Herr Drosselmeyer) and Keren Gibb-Hilliard have been performing in or directing The Nutcracker in Huntsville since its debut in 1969. Keren and David learned, from ballet master and Huntsville legend Loyd Tygett, the art of how to create a performance that was not only technically beautiful but which would engage and entertain audiences. They continue Mr. T’s legacy today and are both truly gifted artists who know how to take a cast of 80 local young dancers and bring out of them a professional level performance.

This winter, AYBT will bring Montgomery Ballet to Huntsville for two performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with AYBT company members dancing many corps parts. Then, in April, AYBT will present its 3rd in a series of ballets set to beloved fairytales in Fairytale Ballet Theatre at the VBC Playhouse. This very popular family oriented ballet has sold out the last two years, and promises to be both fun and educational for children of all ages. Everyone is encouraged to come in their fairytale finest and participate in the Royal Procession during intermission.

Alabama Youth Ballet School, the official school of AYBT, under the direction of Keren Gibb-Hilliard, is home to dancers from age three to adult. With an emphasis on classical ballet, the school also offers classes in modern, jazz, tap, character, and pilates, and has special classes for boys, adults and teens wishing to begin dance. In AYB’s short lifetime, its instructors have competed in the choreography competition at Panoply and have won the overall best choreography category, placed in the finals in ballet, won the hip-hop and jazz divisions, and received several Honorable Mentions. AYB is registering now for fall classes, which will begin on August 17. Click here or c all 881-5930 for information on class availability and to register.