To some, the idea of a football and ballet is an unthinkable combination. For Ashley Bettis, the founder, creator, and producer of Touchdowns and Tutus, it’s a unique way to incorporate football with the arts.
Ashley Bettis, a Canton Ballet alum and former professional dancer, knows how tremendously the ballet and the arts can impact and child’s life, as it did with her own. She has been able to perform and work both as a stage director and choreographer in a variety of opera houses around the world. The arts has enriched her life and provided the space to grow as a person, both personally and professionally. She is a strong advocate for art education and wants to nurture the love of the arts in the next generation.
Touchdowns and Tutus is Canton Ballet’s annual fundraiser where they pair thirteen local high school football players with thirteen of Canton Ballet’s dancers. This year, the emcees for the event will be Ahmaad Crump, the in-arena host for the NBA World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, and Megan McCrea, Q92 and Canton Charge arena host.
The proceeds for Touchdowns and Tutus help the Canton Ballet by funding performances such as Peter and the Wolf and The Nutcracker. It allows them to offer the luxury of live music in their classrooms, and it also provides up to 20k a year in minority scholarships and financial aid programs.
The football players were chosen by an open audition. They were given a ballet class which was tailored to their abilities. The girls, who are Canton Ballet Company dancers, were selected via an audition in December.
They perform before a panel of celebrity judges, including Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Olympic gymnastics gold medalist, Dominique Moceanu. After their performance the couples are eliminated down to three pairs of semi-finalists. Those three couples then repeat their dance, with the winner chosen based on audience applause.
This year’s dancers are:
Taylor Adams, Central Catholic High School, and Trey Carl, Minerva High School
Nicole Belden, Hoover High School, and Darius Stokes, GlenOak High School
Lauren Compton and Nolan Goering, both from Central Catholic High School
Hannah Dunnerstick, GlenOak High School, and Clayton Tabler, McKinley High School
Isabella Hellmann, Jackson High School, and Dylan Walczak, Louisville High School
Tamaki Hoshi and Christian Harwood, both from St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Margaret Kingsbury and Terrance Mack, both from GlenOak High School
Emily Kuntz, GlenOak High School, and Luke May, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Morgan Lineweaver, Hoover High School, and Joe Fuchs, Central Catholic High School
Anna Mears, Hoover High School, and Connor Fritz, Minerva High School
Caroline Zollinger, Hoover High School, and Nicholas Oldfield, Alliance High School
Erika Shi, Alliance High School, and Lucas McGuire, Massillon Washington High School
Aleesha Singh, Jackson High School, and Dominic Bowman, Perry High School
There will also be a Pre-Game Reception with a performance by Rudy Parris from NBC’s The Voice in Founders Hall at Zimmerman Symphony Center. Also, there will be a Post-Party at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tickets to both the Pre-Game Reception and HOF Post-Party are sold out.
Touchdowns and Tutus will take place March 10th at 6pm at Umstaattd Performing Arts Hall next to Mckinley High School. The tickets for the performance are $35 for premium seating, $25 for General Admission and $15 for students. Tickets are available online at CantonBallet.com or by calling the Box Office at 330-455-7220.
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Journalist: Rayn Burke
Email: raynburkepulse@gmail.com