Clayton Center and Appalachian Ballet Co. Elevate Artists in East TN
In the heart of Blount County, TN, where rolling hills meet the vibrant pulse of artistic expression, the Appalachian Ballet Company (ABC) pirouettes onto center stage. Nestled within the Clayton Center for the Arts, a cultural landmark in Maryville, ABC has captivated audiences with its exquisite performances for decades.
“Blount County is not just an affordable place to live; it offers a holistic year-round lifestyle with arts and culture and access to the outdoors,” said Christy McDonald Slavick, interim executive director of the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. “We have many things most communities of our size typically don’t – and that includes the Clayton Center.”
In This Article
The Clayton Center for the Arts
A downtown cultural landmark, the center was constructed in 2012 as a joint project between the cities of Maryville and Alcoa, the Blount County Industrial Development Board and Maryville College. Its state-of-the-art, 1,200 seat proscenium theater hosts a wide variety of well-known acts and traveling exhibits and is home to ABC.
“The ballet had a long history of performing in Old Wilson Chapel at Maryville College,” Slavick says. “So, when the Clayton Center was built, it was obvious for us to have them as a resident artist.”
A Resource to the Community
Since the ABC’s founding in 1972, students from Maryville College’s arts, theater, technology and other departments have had the opportunity to participate in each performance. Many behind-the-scenes positions – such as lighting, prop building and costuming work – continue to be filled by students, honing their skills while helping produce three major ballets each year.
“ABC is an incredible resource in our community,” Slavick says. “It has grown to create amazing productions and has exposed a lot of people to ballet that would not otherwise have been. It fits with the Clayton Center’s mission, too, by providing a place for exploring the arts.”
Nurturing Dancers, Enchanting Audiences
ABC’s winter production is one of the highlights of the holiday season, drawing audiences from across East Tennessee and beyond. The traditional Christmas-themed ballet, performed alongside the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, is eternally popular.
“The ABC is known for its ‘Nutcrackers,’” Slavick says.
Other works filling out the company’s annual program may include family favorites, such as ‘Cinderella’ or ‘Peter Pan,’ and a range of other classical and contemporary productions.
Amy Morton Vaughn, artistic director of ABC, says that about 90 dancers are formal members in the company, with two dozen considered “senior dancers.”
But nearly 300 students from around the region are in training with the ABC’s affiliated Van Metre School of Dance, founded over 60 years ago in Maryville.
“Even our 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds get to perform in the Clayton Center auditorium,” says Morton Vaughn, who also directs the dance school. It’s an experience that can be inspirational for performers of any age, she adds. The youngest dancers may begin with a small role in one production and work their way up to more prominent appearances in the ballet productions as their techniques improve. ABC is also known for its outreach with area schools, supporting performances and engaging with students.
“Recently, we were able to offer a matinee production of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ free to the local school system, with Knoxville Symphony musicians playing,” Morton Vaughn says. “It’s just such a treat to bring together these talented performers.”
Slavick explains that the success of this and other art partnerships in Blount County strengthens individual efforts. “Our arts organizations realize that it is good to have partners with a similar mission,” she says.
From the youngest dancer taking their first bow to the seasoned performer sharing their passion, the Appalachian Ballet Company and Clayton Center for the Arts are a testament to the power of community and the transformative magic of the arts.
Four Art Programs for Young Creatives
1. Studio 212
Kid and teen classes last an entire semester at Studio 212, a working art studio that offers a variety of hands-on art activities and learning techniques in mediums such as painting, art and clay.
2. Parks & Rec
Many youth programs are offered through Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks and Recreation, including advanced tumbling, beginner guitar, basketball, dance and musical theater.
3. Van Metre School of Dance
Van Metre is an official school of the Appalachian Ballet Company. The studio has provided dance education since 1958, offering dance classes in diverse styles such as ballet, tap, modern, jazz, hip-hop, creative movement and musical theater.
4. Creative Spark Studio
At Creative Spark Studio, students of all ages can channel their creative juices toward interesting projects, learning how to sculpt pottery, create jewelry, fuse glass and work with metals.
Maryville’s Living Room
Vienna Coffee Co. has been a part of downtown Maryville for more than 20 years. Today, the company operates its Maryville shop as well as a café in Oak Ridge on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory site, and a third small café is open on the Carson-Newman University campus in Jefferson City. In addition, Vienna supplies its line of coffee products to more than 200 retailers.
“At our original shop, someone once referred to us as ‘Maryville’s Living Room’ because individuals and groups meet here every day throughout the morning and afternoon,” says Kelly Wiggins, chief of operations at Vienna Coffee.
Wiggins says the company also enjoys giving back to the community, especially as a passionate advocate of the arts. Hanging local art on the walls of its Maryville location is one way the coffee shop shows its support.
“There is a wonderful lady named Deede Edele who volunteers her time to curate four or five various big shows each year at Vienna,” Wiggins says. “One of those larger shows is called the Beautifully Made Trade Fair, which takes place during the holiday season.”
The market features handmade products from artisans around the world.
“Along with the visual arts, Vienna Coffee is a key supporter of the Appalachian Ballet Company,” Wiggins says. “We enjoy our involvement with the arts very much.”
– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.