In the summer of 1955, Dorothy Alexander, founder and artistic director of the Atlanta Civic Ballet (now the Atlanta Ballet), was lunching in New York City with Anatole Chujoy, the eminent dance critic, editor, and publisher of Dance News. Chujoy had recently attended a festival of regional dance companies in Canada and suggested to Alexander that something similar could and should take place in the United States.

She returned to Atlanta and began contacting her southeastern colleagues. On April 14-15, 1956, the first regional ballet festival in the United States took place at the Tower Theatre in Atlanta. The success of this festival led to the founding of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association.

Miss Dorothy’s vision inspired others throughout the country and eventually led to the establishment of the five regional associations (Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Pacific and Mid-States) which now comprise Regional Dance America.

SERBA Mission Statement

* Promote excellence in instruction, choreography, performance and production
* Support regional and national networking between directors, choreographers and dancers
* Provide educational and scholarship opportunities for dancers and choreographers
* Foster the growth of education in and the appreciation for dance in the community