‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Thanksgiving Weekend
November 25, 26 & 27
Story Time Interactive Videos
Teachers, learn how to bring a CARE Ballet experience to your school!
30th Anniversary Performance Season
Three upcoming ballets to delight the whole family!
Dance this Fall & Winter
Check out our latest class offerings for all ages!
Experience Excellence
Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble (CARE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting dance in West Michigan. CARE encourages young artists by providing performance opportunities, technical staging skills and a positive dance experience while concentrating on the dancer as a whole person.
To achieve our mission we have both a performing company, Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble (CARE), and a school, CARE Conservatory of Ballet (CCB).
CARE
Every year, CARE presents three public performances. We also participate in arts outreach through free school performances and community arts events.
Why dance with CARE Ballet?
Performance Opportunities
We offer the opportunity to learn all aspects of performance through participation in three unique ballet productions a year.
Ensemble Perks
Apprentice and Full Ensemble dancers receive shoe stipends. There are no audition fees for non-ensemble members.
Dance for the Community
CARE Ballet is committed to community outreach. In our 29 year history, we have introduced over 70,000 at-risk elementary school students to classical ballet through our performances. Come be a part of something wonderful!
CCB
The CARE Conservatory of Ballet is a training school for students interested in pursuing classical ballet. We also offer jazz, lyrical, tap, yoga and more.
Why take classes at CCB?
Dance at your own pace
We offer 3 ten-week sessions a year, allowing dancers to progress at their own pace, rather than be locked into one class for a year.
Performance Opportunities
We offer the opportunity to learn all aspects of performance through participation in three unique ballet productions a year.
Caring Teachers
Our teaching staff meets regularly to consult on the total development of a dancer.
Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble Celebrates 30 Years!
CARE has been delighting children and adults with family-friendly ballets for over a quarter of a century. Our one-hour performances make classical ballets and children’s stories come alive through dance. Plus, we always offer an opportunity for our young audience to talk with the ballet dancers at the conclusion of a performance. We want to nurture a love of ballet!
Cinderella
CARE Ballet presents Cinderella, a family-friendly, one-hour version of Prokofiev’s classic ballet. The ballet tells the familiar story of a beautiful young girl who is left behind as her stepmother and comedic stepsisters depart for a Grand Ball at the King’s palace. As a dark shadow passes over the Kingdom, Cinderella’s fairy godmother appears and with a wave of her magic wand mice become footmen, rats become beautiful horses, and Cinderella’s rags turn into a beautiful ball gown. The fairy tale unfolds complete with a carriage, a prince, and a glass slipper.
- Saturday, October 1, 2022 @ 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
- Sunday, October 2, 2022 @ 3:00 PM
- Performances at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
This original ballet, based on Clement C. Moore’s familiar poem and set to traditional holiday music, has become a Thanksgiving Weekend tradition in Grand Rapids. Mischievous mice, dancing stockings, magical toys and Santa with his prancing reindeer combine to create a wonderful hour of family entertainment. Even the youngest members of your family will enjoy this show! The audience is welcome to join Santa and the cast on stage after the performance so don’t forget your camera!
- Friday, November 25, 2022 @ 7 PM
- Saturday, November 26, 2022 @ 11 AM & 3 PM
- Sunday, November 27, 2022 @ 3 PM
- Performances at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center
Carnival of the Animals
Waltzing elephants, wrestling donkeys, comical turtles, and more spark the dreams of a young boy in the whimsical ballet inspired by children’s book, Carnival of the Animals, by John Lithgow.
- Saturday, February 4, 2023 @ 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
- Sunday, February 5, 2024 @ 3 PM
- Performances at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center
Experience the Joy of Classical Ballet
Individual Tickets
CARE Directors
Heather Liskiewitz
Artistic Director
Miss Heather debuted as CARE Ballet’s Artistic Director during the 2017-18 season with Cinderella. Previously Ballet Mistress and Costume Seamstress, Heather received her early training with Judy Genson and performed with the Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, she received a BFA in dance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Heather has performed professionally with the Minnesota Ballet, Ballet San Antonio, Continental Ballet and the Illinois Ballet. She is also a freelance dancer and choreographer. Her choreography credits include works for Wright State University, Gem City Ballet, Young People’s Ballet Theatre, and the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
Judith VandenBosch
Stage Manager, Ballet Mistress, Head Costume Seamstress
Judith began stage managing during the 2017-17 performance of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. She brings an organized and direct element backstage while also emphasizing safety. During rehearsals, she assists the Artistic Director as Ballet Mistress. Additionally, she is Head Seamstress in charge of the beautiful costumes seen on stage.
Judy Genson-Wadsworth
Founder, Artistic Director Emeritus
After 25 years of inspiring young dancers on stage, Mrs. Genson-Wadsworth retired as Artistic Director of CARE during the 2017-18 season. She began her training locally with Florence Cassell, Zita Harris, and Sally Seven. She continued her studies in New York City with Vincenzo Celli, himself a student of Enrico Cecchetti. She also took instruction in the Russian technique from Richard Thomas and Barbara Fallis. Genson toured New York and New Jersey with the Young Ballet, an ensemble group which performed lecture demonstrations and classical variations from most of the white ballets. After her return to Grand Rapids, Judy joined Grand Rapids Civic Ballet in 1972 where she was principal dancer performing virtually all of the works in the Company’s repertoire. She was named the director of Grand Rapids Civic Ballet Junior Company at its inception in 1981 and assistant to the director of the main Company in 1982. After hanging up her toes shoes in 1987, Genson was the Acting Artistic Director until she became the Company’s Business Manager.
Trent Wadsworth
Technical Director
In addition to being Technical Director/Production Manager for CARE, Trent Wadsworth is the Manager and Technical Director for the East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center and manages Pioneer Auditorium in East Grand Rapids. Trent works with Creative Mercenaries and has worked with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Circle Theatre, Grand Rapids Jewish Theatre, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Ballet, Cornerstone College, West Michigan Jazz, and is a member of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology.
CARE Board of Directors
President Gerri Rhein
Vice-President Dan Hielkema
Secretary Dawn Hodgkinson
Treasurer Justin Foster
Dianne Brady-Peters
Jaci Tyler
Sarah Hodgkins
Michelle Patterson
Judy Genson-Wadsworth
Trent Wadsworth
Make a Donation
Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble (CARE Ballet) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting dance in West Michigan by encouraging young artists to explore performance opportunities, technical staging skills and, enjoy a positive dance experience while concentrating on the dancer as a whole person.
For over 29 years, CARE has brought live ballet to numerous student populations in the Greater Grand Rapids area. This last year Covid-19 required creative innovation so CARE Ballet adopted a virtual performance platform.
Through the development of an enchanting series of four entertaining and educational 30-minute video ballets our performance distribution to schools, libraries, and other organizations has been able to continue.
Your generous donation will keep Arts Education alive and well through the CARE Ballet Community Outreach program!
Thank you!
Major Granting Organizations Recognize Care Ballet’s Excellence
In the fiscal year, 2020-21 CARE received its third operational grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, the Wege Foundation and the Meijer Family Foundation supported CARE’s community outreach efforts to underserved populations.
“It’s wonderful knowing the training of dancers and CARE productions are recognized at national, state, and local levels,” says Heather Liskewitz, artistic director.
History of Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble (CARE Ballet)
After recruiting six dancers (4 females and two males) CARE was off and running. That first season saw productions of Beauty of the Earth, Western USA and Life’s Journey all with original choreography by the Artistic Director. Over 1200 students from Greater Grand Rapids area schools attended the performances that first year. From 1993 to 1999 the repertoire grew to nine ballets, including what became a CARE signature holiday favorite, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Outside auditions for casting in productions soon became a hallmark of CARE and helped to grow the ballet Company and its reputation.
In 1999, in an effort to establish greater financial stability, a group of parents stepped forward and helped the fledgling organization become incorporated as a Michigan non-profit. A volunteer Board was recruited, a strategic plan was drawn up, bylaws written, policies created and a logo designed. The mission of community outreach to underserved students became woven into the fabric of CARE.
In 2006 the CARE Conservatory of Ballet was established with a permanent home with studios for students age 3 to adult to offer classes and provide rehearsal space. The Conservatory now offers all forms of dance training from classical ballet, yoga, pilates, musical theater, tap and many more. Approximately 175 students now study at the Conservatory. The performance repertoire has grown to 25 ballets all with original choreography. The Company Ensemble has grown to 32 members and CARE casts for public performances now put 60 to 70 students onto the stage in full costume, with professional sets, lighting and music. Over the last 29 years CARE has not lost sight of its core mission of creating a learning environment that fosters support and encouragement for its students while introducing young audiences to the joy of a classical ballet performance.
CARE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
At CARE Ballet, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees, students, subcontractors and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments and programs. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.
We’re committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for the entire arts industry of the nonprofit sector, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
To provide informed, authentic leadership for cultural equity, CARE Ballet strives to:
- See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff and the arts communities we serve.
- Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services, and continually update and report organization progress.
- Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness.
- Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact our organization’s work, and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission.
- Help to challenge assumptions about what it takes to be a strong leader at our organization, and who is well-positioned to provide leadership.
- Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.
- Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, committee, and advisory bodies.
- Lead with respect and tolerance. We expect all employees to embrace this notion and to express it in workplace interactions and through every day practices.
CARE Ballet abides by the following action items to help promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace:
- Pursue cultural competency throughout our organization by creating substantive learning opportunities and formal, transparent policies.
- Generate and aggregate quantitative and qualitative research related to equity to make incremental, measurable progress toward the visibility of our diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts.
- Improve our cultural leadership pipeline by creating and supporting programs and policies that foster leadership that reflects the diversity of American society.
- Pool resources and expand offerings for underrepresented constituents by connecting with other arts organizations committed to diversity and inclusion efforts.
- Include a salary range with all public job descriptions.
- Advocate for public and private-sector policy that promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity. Challenge systems and policies that create inequity, oppression and disparity.
CARE Statement of Non-Discrimination Policy
CARE BALLET, INC. does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any and all its activities and operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, students, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.
CARE BALLET, INC. is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, promotions and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
CARE Conservatory of Ballet is a participating venue of AccessGR. AccessGR is a community program of Artists Creating Together, to help make the rich arts and cultural experiences of our community accessible to all.
All performances are held at the East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center, which is fully compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
CARE Non-Profit Information
We believe in being fiscally transparent and strive to put our donors’ dollars to good use.
990 Form
Community Report
CARE Strategic Plan
CARE Conservatory of Ballet
The CARE Conservatory of Ballet is a training school for students interested in pursuing classical ballet. Classes are based on the Italian Cecchetti syllabus and are augmented with strengthening classes, pilates, yoga, jazz, tap and even musical theater. Classes emphasize technique, musicality and creativity. Students receive individual attention and discover that the joy of studying classical ballet is learning to accept challenges, take risks, achieve personal goals and improve day to day.
2022 Class Offerings, Online Enrollment and Tuition
CARE Conservatory of Ballet offers three 10-week sessions during the school year. To register, contact us at registration@careballet.org or (616) 464-3682.
2022-2023 Fall 1st 10-week Session begins Monday, September 12. Students can start anytime during the season.
1st 10-Week Session
September 12, 2022 – November 17, 2022
(Thanksgiving break November 18–27)
2nd 10-Week Session
November 28, 2022 – February 16, 2023
(Holiday break December 18–Jan 1)
3rd 10-Week Session
February 27, 2023 – May 11, 2023
(Spring break April 1-10)
2022-23 School Year Class Schedule
Our Winter schedule is now available.
Student Classes
1 Hour Class Tuition
- Call (616) 464-3682 to reserve a spot
- All class placement is determined by the director
- Class size is limited
1½ Hour Class Tuition
- Call (616) 464-3682 to reserve a spot
- All class placement is determined by the director
- Class size is limited
Pre-School Boys & Girls
Wee Can Dance
A 45-minute group class for ages 3 & 4- Wee Can Dance is a fun introduction to dance for boys and girls. Wee Dancers will explore dance and movement with music, fun props like scarves and hoops, and of course imagination. This class will help build flexibility, memory and motor skills, and encourage following directions, sharing, and cooperating with others. Children will jump, twirl, and discover how much fun it is to express themselves through dance.
Adults
Adult 12 Punch Card
1 Hour ClassesGood for any 1 hour adult class
12 Punches
One punch per class
Adult 12 Punch Card
1.5 Hour Classes- Good for any 1.5 hour adult class
12 Punches
One punch per class
Class Attire
Girls
For ballet classes, please wear pink tights, leotard (no neon please) and pink ballet shoes. Comfortable clothing and dance shoes for all other classes. No street shoes.
Boys
For ballet classes, please wear white t-shirt, black shorts or athletic pants and black ballet or jazz shoes. Comfortable clothing and dance shoes for all other classes. No street shoes.
Adults
Workout clothes with ballet or dance shoes. Please no street shoes.
Reserve a spot today
CCB Faculty
Judy Genson-Wadsworth
Founder, Business Manager, Instructor
Mrs. Genson-Wadsworth has been involved in the dance world for most of her life. She is a former ballerina with Grand Rapids Civic Ballet and The Young Ballet Company in New York City. A longtime teacher, she also is known for her choreography in many local productions. Mrs. Genson-Wadsworth co-founded Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble in 1992 and served as Artistic Director until 2017.
Heather Liskiewitz
Artistic Director and Instructor
Heather received her early training with Judy Genson and performed with the Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, she received a BFA in dance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Heather has performed professionally with the Minnesota Ballet, Ballet San Antonio, Continental Ballet and the Illinois Ballet. She is also a freelance dancer and choreographer. Her choreography credits include works for Wright State University, Gem City Ballet, Young People’s Ballet Theatre, and the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
Sarah Marley
Ms. Marley was born on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, training in the Cecchetti Method with Sonja Dickerson-Faust and Heidi Wright. She continued her training under the direction of Peter Stark with the Orlando Ballet School and was accepted into the trainee program at age fourteen, performing in the corps de ballet alongside the professionals. Ms. Marley was invited by the legendary Fernando Bujones to join the company in 2004 and danced with the company for the next six seasons. That same year she became part of the Orlando Ballet School faculty, teaching various levels and adult ballet classes regularly. Ms. Marley has also danced with Royal Caribbean Cruises Int, the San Diego Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, the San Diego Opera, Chicago Repertory Ballet and, Smuin Ballet. She has been a faculty member with Visceral Dance Center, Northeastern Illinois University’s Community Dance Program, as well as a number of small studio’s throughout the Chicagoland area. Sarah joined the Grand Rapids ballet in 2019 and is on the faculty for many dance schools in the Grand Rapids community. Throughout the course of her career Ms. Marley has performed soloist and principal roles in classical and contemporary works by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Michael Smuin, Maurice Causey, Helen Pickett, Bruce Marks, Amy Seiwert, Patrick Corbin, David Parsons, Kenneth von Heidecke, Trey McIntyre and Garrett Ammon among others.
Sarah is excited to be joining the faculty of the CARE Conservatory of Ballet.
Gwen Patterson
Gwen has been dancing since the age of 2 and started her ballet studies at Balletmore. She has been in many shows including The Nutcracker, A Little Mermaid, The Island Princess, and Under the Big Top. At the age of 13, Gwen started to introduce contemporary and lyrical styles into her ballet education, studying modern techniques such as Graham and Horton in addition to contemporary choreography. In 2021 Gwen came to CARE Ballet and has loved every second of it. She has loved the opportunity to choreograph for Student Cabaret and advanced contemporary. In the summer of 2022, she attended the University Of Oklahoma Summer Intensive to study ballet and modern techniques. There she learned that modern and contemporary are what she wants to pursue in college. She is very excited to teach this year.
Natalia Alexandra Retzloff
Natalia is originally from Swartz Creek, Michigan where she grew up dancing since the age of two. She trained at Young People’s Ballet Theatre under the direction of Denise Paavola, Jennifer Wiley, Nick and Laura Schultz, and Heather Liskiewitz. While there, she had the privilege of performing many lead roles in full length ballets such as: Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Beauty and the Beast, The Nutcracker, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Natalia continued her dance education to pursue her BFA in Dance from Wright State University where she had the opportunity to perform as a member of Dayton Ballet’s second company. She spent her summers training at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Charlotte Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Her first original work “Shattered Reflections” won a choreography competition in high school and many of her works have been premiered since in Michigan and Ohio. While at college, she has had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers and teachers such as: Dwight Rhoden, Gina Walther, Ron Cunningham, Desmond Richardson, Jillian Davis, Ray Mercer, Ashley Walton, and Clifford Williams.
Melissa Tungl
Melissa started practicing yoga after the birth of her first child in 2006 as a means to nourish and nurture her body and spirit. As her life evolved by relocating to West Michigan and adding to her family, so has her yoga practice. Melissa is committed to a lifelong study of yoga on and off the mat. Since completing certification standards up to ERYT500 she now enjoys sharing this with others. Melissa appreciates many styles of yoga from meditation and breathing exercises to the more physical practices of posture. Her goal is for students to feel empowered in their bodies, calm in the mind, and light in the soul.
Judith VandenBosch
Judith has been teaching for 24 years. In 2014, she started to educate herself in injury prevention through Perfect Form Physiotherapy, online training courses based in Australia. She is knowledgeable in fascia release techniques and proper training to help prevent injuries. She took Teacher Training Level 1 Workshop with Lisa Howell, B.Phty to perfect all her knowledge. To help dancers progress faster, Judith teaches major key aspects of improving technique and perspective. Judith is trained in the Progressive Ballet Technique, a program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon in Australia. Teaching this conditioning class for ballet dancers helps students understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet. She is also licensed to teach Zumba, Yoga, balance body barre and group fitness classes.
Sue Wilson
Sue danced professionally with the Grand Rapids Civic Ballet under Sally Sevens. She graduated from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Additionally, Sue has been an American Council of Exercise certified group fitness Instructor for 26 years. She continues to share her love of dance being a Liturgical Dance Director at Fifth Reformed Church and teaching ballet and pilates at CARE Ballet.
Mikey Winslow
Mikey Winslow grew up dancing with CARE. He graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and went on to receive a BFA from Western Michigan University. He has been performing on Broadway for over a decade. His credits include West Side Story, American Idiot, Wicked, On The Town, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Hamilton! He is so very excited to work with the young artists of West Michigan!!!
Nathan Young
Nathan Young began dancing at the age of thirteen under the direction of Rebecca-Miller Stalcup, Melinda Tobian, and Mark Bush in Little Rock, AR. Nathan attended summer intensives such as Long Beach Ballet, Joffrey Midwest, Joffrey Chicago, and Ballet West. In 2013, Nathan graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine arts in Ballet Performance. After graduation, Nathan began dancing professionally with Nashville Ballet, working there for four seasons. He currently dances with the Grand Rapids Ballet in Michigan. Nathan has danced in works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, Jennifer Archibald, Trey McIntyre, Paul Vasterling, and Bronislava Nijinska.
Studio
CARE Conservatory of Ballet
2661 29th St. SE, Suite I
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512
(616) 464-3682
Our barrier-free studio is located behind Schuler Books & Music.
Performance Venue
East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center
2211 Lake Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
Performance venue is barrier-free.