HOULTON — The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and the Health Services Foundation are teaming up to bring the Maine State Ballet to Houlton.
Portland’s premier Ballet Company, under the direction of Linda MacArthur Miele, the Maine State Ballett will appear in the Shiretown Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4 and will present exciting productions of “Peter & the Wolf” and “Western Roundup” at the Houlton Community Arts Center.
The Maine State Ballet, showcases full-length ballets along with contemporary pieces in a varied repetoire of this highly versatile company.
In a series of meetings between Susan Waite York, Arts Center trustee, and Elizabeth Dulin, Health Services Foundation executive director, discussions were held regarding the possibility of a partnership between the Arts Center and the Foundation to bring cultural activities to the Greater Houlton area.
“As a result of those discussions, we take great pleasure in this announcement of our organizations presenting these ballet productions for the enjoyment of our communities. This is a fun, cultural event that sends out a wonderful message to our communities, “Look what we are doing together”.
Sharing the responsibilities that go into putting on a production like this will be a great learning experience in events partnering and even better will support two very important fundraising endeavors. This mutual effort will not only assist each organization toward their ultimate fundraising goals, but also bring cultural enrichment to our communities with the Performing Arts.
Fundraiser planned “In support of bringing the ballet to Houlton, The Arts Center is planning a Charity Dinner serving local and organic foods from the area. This event will be held Saturday, March 12, at the Houlton Elks Club, with cocktails beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and will be available at York’s Bookstore, York’s of Houlton and Houlton School of Dance.
“We look forward to a great turnout in support of not only this event in particular, but for the future of the Arts Center as well,” said York.
The ballet is not just a fundraiser, it is the hope of the two groups that by bringing this event to Houlton it will encourage other productions to come to our area, thereby expanding our cultural base. Even though this is the first partnering adventure, the groups plan to continue discussions regarding cultural activities to be held, possibly on an annual basis.
“Ballet today, maybe Broadway tomorrow, ” said Dulin.
“The Houlton Community Arts Center Council is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise funds and generate interest in the Community Arts Center located at the Houlton Junior/Senior High School. Phase One of the building project has been completed, however, strong community interest to expand visual and performing arts has those involved with Phase Two eager to press forward in building an additional wing. The new space will play a dual role by accommodating the growing educational needs of students, and provide up-coming events, performed in the Center’s auditorium, a proper, separate environment to practice and present the performing arts,” said York.
The Foundation’s current fundraising goal is to bring Digital Mammography to the local area, in support of earlier detection of breast cancer. This campaign will support an effort to raise $385,000 for purchase of state-of-the-art technology for Houlton Regional Hospital.
The adventures of “Peter and the Wolf,” music by Sergei Prokofiev, and “Western Roundup,” a rousing fun-filled, saloon girls, swinging ballet set to traditional western music, are staged, and choreographed by Linda Miele.

Reprinted from the Houlton Pioneer Times