Lelia Haller Ballet Classique

Our studio was founded by Lelia Haller in 1928. She studied dance in Paris before returning to Louisiana to launch her career as a fine arts teacher. Lelia Haller was the product of a combination of French, Italian, and Spanish styles of dance, and we see a lot of it in the work of Jennifer Hazelwood and Shannon Rodriguez, who continue to teach her today. The studio's primary goal is to maintain the choreography and technique of Lelia Haller and provide performing opportunities in the New Orleans area. We are concerned about the future that Haller wanted for her work and community. Lelia Haller Ballet Classique is affiliated with Ballet Louisiane, a community-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organisation committed to the promotion of the art of dancing and to offering dancers from all backgrounds the chance to perform professionally.   Ballet Louisiane's mission is to preserve Lelia Haller's legacy as one of New Orleans's original ballet mistresses by teaching students her unique and personal technique and staging her choreography. Ballet Louisiane is essential for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes, as it helps to preserve cultural traditions in this region and the people who live there.