MISSION:
The mission of the organization is to promote arts appreciation and cultural enhancement in the community, provide access to high caliber ballet training and performance opportunities through training, performances, scholarship and outreach programs.

VISION:
Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre is uniquely positioned to combine the performing arts together with youth development as a focus.

Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre provides a nurturing and intensive artistic home base to some of the area’s and South Carolina’s most talented young dancers. Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre provides young dancers an elite conservatory training program that prepare them eventually for the professional world or should they decide to choose another career path, be able to use the life skills learned in dance: discipline, hard work, patience, respect, perseverance, determination, resilience, adaptability, cooperation, and good behavior – all necessary ingredients for success in life.

PROGRAMS:
The organization strives to make a significant and lasting impact in the community and in the lives of thousands of area youth every year.

Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre serves the community with ballet productions and outreach performances each year for the youth that traditionally do not have access to arts programming. From 2007 through 2019, CYBT has invited school children to come and see CYBT’s signature production of the Nutcracker as well as the springtime productions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia, of which nearly 20,000 children have attended. CYBT has had students (and their teachers) come from Horry, Georgetown and the neighboring South Carolina and North Carolina public and private schools.

This year, CYBT celebrates the 17th year that the company has been doing the “Nutcracker” production for the community. Through the Nutcracker performances, CYBT has helped to bring our community together to experience this beloved holiday tradition. For most of the students in attendance, it is their first time to ever experience a live performance and their first introduction to the art of dance. 

As part of CYBT’s Outreach Program, company members perform in the local elementary schools’ Fine Arts Day festivities as well as at other socio-civic events. Company members have performed at the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball Fundraiser (February 2020), at a Long Bay Symphony event, at the Blessing of the Inlet, at the Honduras Mission Trip fundraiser for St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and at different tree lighting festivities (Market Common, Coastal Carolina University and the City of Myrtle Beach).

In 2020-2021, with the COVID restrictions, our matinee performances for the schools were halted. Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre, with support from the Walmart Foundation, offered the opportunity for healthcare workers from the Horry, Georgetown, Florence and Pee Dee region, come to the Nutcracker performance, to thank them for their dedicated service, get them a respite from the work that they do, have them enjoy this holiday tradition. For the past two years, CYBT and Walmart Foundation have offered this as a way of thanking our healthcare workers.

Through philanthropic donations, Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre offers a limited number of scholarships to need-based families whose children meet the criteria provided by the artistic staff and who commit to the work and discipline necessary for the training and performance opportunities that are provided.

Ultimately, Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre aims to create a setting where an entire community of dance teachers, families, and supporters of the arts will all be, as one, promoting an awareness of how the dance arts can bring fulfillment and joy to the hearts and spirit of everyone.