Kismet is an ancient Turkish word meaning fate, destiny. If there is such a thing, Ballet Mississippi is experiencing it firsthand.

 

It’s due to a friendship that started some 40 years ago in New York City when two young aspiring dancers first met.

 

Ballet Mississippi’s longtime Artistic and Executive Director David Keary recalls arriving in the Big Apple, with big dreams. Professional ballet dancing was quite an unusual calling for a small-town Mississippi boy in the 1970. But David was driven and obsessed with dance.

 

For Lisa Hess, there was nothing unusual about her aspirations of becoming a Prima Ballerina. She was born into a family of dancers. After years of study, a lot of shoes and sore feet, Lisa’s dreams were about to come true. Renowned American ballet choreographer George Balanchine invited Lisa to join New York City Ballet, the most prestigious ballet company in the world.

 

David received the same call. He was dancing and working with Thalia Mara in Jackson with the state’s very first professional ballet company. Moving to New York and working under Balanchine was an incredible opportunity. Balanchine was considered the most influential American choreographer in the 20th century. Rudolph Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov were also with the company.

 

Under Balanchine, Lisa performed with Nureyev and starred as the Sugar Plum fairy in Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”  

David also excelled in New York. After several years the Ft. Worth Ballet Company came calling. It was a chance for David to dance on center stage, but also to learn invaluable lessons in teaching and running a dance company.

Years later, when David put up his professional dance shoes, he returned home to Mississippi. He earned a law degree and clerked for the Mississippi Supreme Court. He loved the work but missed the dance world. He joined the Board of Ballet Mississippi. In just weeks the board asked him to take over the company. He guided them through some tough financial times and turned it into an outstanding ballet school. Talk about destiny.

When Lisa decided to retire as a dancer, she used her incredible talents and experience to transition into choreography and teaching. She had learned invaluable lessons while dancing as a principal and guest artist throughout the U.S., Australia, and Asia.

Earlier this year, Lisa got a call from her old friend David Keary. They’d kept in touch over the years. They were talking and laughing as they always do. (When you’re in a room with them, you can’t help but laugh along.) At one point David asked, “would you ever consider coming to Mississippi?”  He said it as kind of a joke, but Lisa wasn’t laughing. Instead, she paused, then said “let me talk to my husband.”  Not long after, much to his surprise she called back and said “YES.”  David knew the collaboration was about to lead to something incredible.

With the accompaniment of his old friend and colleague, David is once again dreaming big. Along with enhancing the level of teaching, the two plan to offer dance classes to children who can’t afford lessons or performance tickets. They want to create classes for children with special needs. Their long-term goal is to bring professional ballet back to Mississippi.

Call it Kismet or just plain luck. Whatever it is, the reunion of these two friends promises an exciting future for Ballet Mississippi and for all our young aspiring dancers.

 

(NOTE FOR A SEPARATE SIDEBAR)

Ballet Mississippi is Mississippi’s first classical ballet school. Started in 1964, it was originally the state’s first and only professional ballet company the state has had.

 

Ballet Mississippi enrolls some 200 students of all ages each year in ballet, jazz and tap.  

David Keary was Mississippi’s first paid professional dancer with the state’s ballet company.

David Keary worked under the direction of Thalia Mara with the state’s first Professional Ballet Company.

Ballet Mississippi offers Classes in Downtown Jackson and at their new studio in Madison.

The Nutcracker celebrates its 40th anniversary in Jackson! December 2-4, 2022  Thalia Mara Hall  Tickets now on sale