The recent $20,000 contribution from the Northwest Florida Ballet Académie’s parent organization PLIE (Parents Leading in Education) marks another step forward in the ballet’s ongoing capital campaign to expand its classroom space in downtown Fort Walton Beach.

• The funds will help support renovations to consolidate middle school academics into the Miramar Place building, where elementary classrooms are currently housed on the second floor. 

The Ballet purchased the second floor and half of the third floor (above Ali’s Bistro) in 2018 when the building space went up for sale, a move that was crucial to maintaining the program’s educational space.

“We weren’t planning on buying that building at the time,” said Todd Eric Allen, artistic director and CEO of Northwest Florida Ballet (NFB). “We were happily renting and had a great relationship with the landlord, but the prospect of not having a space was scary. We had to do it.”

The purchase was made possible through the support of key community members. Building owner Susan Myers agreed to sell the space $100,000 below market value, while financiers Clark West and Elliott Mitchell secured below-average interest rates and cost savings at closing, resulting in more than $100,000 in savings over the life of the loan. In recognition of their support, the second floor will be dedicated to Myers, West & Mitchell.

The capital campaign’s primary goal is renovating the Miramar Place building’s third floor to unite all academic classrooms in one location. Currently, third through fifth-grade students attend academic classes in the Miramar Place building’s second floor, while middle school academics remain in the main Sybil Smith Lebhertz Center for Dance Education building. This separation creates logistical challenges and limits the ballet’s ability to optimize its arts instruction space.

• “Our goal really has been to get the middle school students’ academic classrooms over at the Miramar Place Building so that they’re all together,” Allen explained. “Then it’ll free up space for us in the main building.”

The PLIE group’s $20,000 contribution has reinvigorated these renovation efforts, which had slowed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This money is going to really help us a lot,” Allen said. “We are reigniting this campaign and getting some interest in it now. My hope is that within the next few years, we’re going to be able to make it happen, that we will renovate that space and get those kids over there.”

While the renovation timeline remains long-term, the parent organization’s substantial contribution signals renewed momentum. The ballet is actively seeking short-term tenants for the space while working to pay down debt and focus on the eventual renovation.

Having all academic classrooms under one roof would not only improve operational efficiency but also allow for better utilization of the main building’s space for arts instruction and performance preparation.

The NFB Académie, established in 2001 through a partnership with Okaloosa County School District, provides free integrated arts and academic education to students in grades 3-8. The program has maintained an A+ rating for 14 consecutive years and recently received a School of Excellence designation from the district.

• “It’s a unique program,” Allen said. “It’s a school for kids that want to dance. We study classical ballet during the day. All of the kids attend there for free and receive training in classical ballet.”

The academy’s curriculum goes beyond traditional academics. Students receive daily ballet instruction alongside core subjects, with training based on standards from major European and American ballet organizations. The program also includes art, music, and French language instruction – French being the traditional language of ballet instruction.

The academy currently serves 142 students across three downtown locations: the main Sybil Smith Lebhertz Center for Dance Education, academic classrooms in the Miramar Place building, and a studio space for high school students. Since its inception in 2001, the program has impacted nearly 1,000 students from Northwest Florida.

“The Northwest Florida Ballet Académie is a shining example of how the arts and education can unite to transform lives and strengthen our community,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “The ongoing support from dedicated parents and community partners ensures that this exceptional program continues to thrive, inspiring students and enriching downtown Fort Walton Beach.”

Allen brings significant professional experience to the program. He began his ballet training at age 14 with Bernadette Clements in Fort Walton Beach before receiving a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. His professional career included performances with the Louisville Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. He has performed at the Kennedy Center for Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and in 2000, he was one of fourteen dancers selected to perform in Ocean Dance 2000 featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov.

• Allen returned to his hometown in 1995, driven by a vision to develop young minds and bodies through innovative dance education programs. The decision to locate downtown was intentional. “The center of our city needs to be where the culture is,” Allen said. “This is where I want to be.”

The program’s growth reflects the evolution of downtown Fort Walton Beach itself. When Allen and his wife Shari returned in 1995, downtown wasn’t as vibrant as it is today. The ballet’s development coincided with revitalization efforts by the former Main Street Fort Walton Beach organization, a group focused on community renewal. 

Shari Allen, who holds a BFA in Dance from Radford University and a Masters in Art Education from Florida State University, brings over 30 years of teaching experience to the program. Her background includes teaching at the Harvard-Radcliffe Dance Department and the Jeanette Neill Dance Studio in Boston.

• The ballet’s presence has contributed significantly to downtown’s transformation. “We brought families with us back to downtown,” Allen said. The school uses downtown as its campus – The Landing Park serves as a playground and the public library as their resource center, creating a unique urban learning environment.

Recent challenges include COVID-19’s impact on fundraising and major cuts to state arts funding. “It’s never happened in the 30 years that I’ve been here,” Allen said regarding the funding cuts. “We’ve had to cut as much as we can and try to use our resources the best we can.”

Despite these challenges, the program continues to produce successful graduates. Many have gone on to perform with the Northwest Florida Ballet Company, which stages professional-quality performances at the Mattie Kelly Fine Arts Center, including the annual  and beloved Nutcracker. Some graduates have continued on to professional dance careers in the U.S. and Europe.

The ballet’s high school pre-professional program, launched in 2012, provides advanced training in a dedicated studio space behind the main building, next to Coasters. This program bridges the gap between student and professional dance careers, preparing students for professional auditions or university dance programs.

Now in its 55th season, the Northwest Florida Ballet has grown from its original location behind the former Greyhound bus station to become one of the largest arts organizations in Northwest Florida. The organization encompasses three distinct areas: the community school open to all ages, the NFB Académie, and the professional company.

• Allen sees continued opportunity for growth downtown, potentially including expansion of the ballet’s footprint. The organization’s presence has helped attract other businesses and development to the area, contributing to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Fort Walton Beach.

The parent organization’s $20,000 contribution represents more than just financial support – it’s the community’s investment in the program’s future. 

“We have some really great parents,” Allen said. “They are invested enough to want to help in that way and it’s really awesome.”

Those interested in supporting the capital campaign can contact the Northwest Florida Ballet for more information.