Barbara Carson
If you appreciate Ballet Austin and all that its presence adds to this city, thank Barbara Carson. It all began with her, at a time when cultural organizations were still in short supply in the capital city. In 1956, Austin boasted a symphony, a community theatre, and little else. Then came Carson, a dancer and choreographer who was inspired to found the Austin Ballet Society, a civic, volunteer organization offering ballet classes. It was a far cry from the professional company we know today – performances initially featured only senior-level students – but Carson’s efforts gave ballet a toehold in Austin, creating an appetite for classical dance in the city and giving dancers a place to learn and be trained in it. The Ballet Austin Academy has established an annual scholarship in her honor.This article appears in June 4 • 2004.