New Jersey Stage March 2015 | Page 78

start a ballet company in Atlantic City,” explained Alexandria Pieroni, Managing Director, Atlantic City Ballet. “She was able to get a grant and her and about 10 dancers from New York came down to South Jersey. At first she had a lot of support. The company performed in almost every casino and some even donated to the ballet so she could buy sets and costumes. Then there was a change in leadership in the city and in the casinos. The casinos felt gamblers didn’t want to see ballet but it was more like ballet audiences don’t just sit in the casinos and gamble, they want to do other things. So the support dried up. They became strictly a touring company with no real home.” The company’s problems continued when they soon found themselves not even being able to rehearse in the city. Papa purchased a studio in Egg Harbor City and moved the company Watch AC Ballet Perform At The Claridge Hotel New Jersey Stage Article Index Next Article Events 78