Kalamazoo Ballet - Founded in 1965
Michigan’s Oldest Continuously Operating Ballet School

 
 

The Legacy of Kalamazoo Ballet and Bullard School of Ballet & Highland Dance

Founded in 1965, Kalamazoo Ballet is Michigan’s oldest continuously operating ballet institution. Established by Thérèse Bullard as the Kalamazoo Ballet and the Bullard School of Ballet and Highland Dance, the school has served generations of dancers with a sustained commitment to classical ballet training, artistic excellence, and professional standards.

Today, this historic institution continues its mission and legacy through Tye Chua Dance, which operates as the official home of Kalamazoo Ballet™ in downtown Kalamazoo.

The Founding of Kalamazoo Ballet in 1965

In 1965, Thérèse Bullard founded the Kalamazoo Ballet and the Bullard School of Ballet & Highland Dance, creating a professional-caliber ballet institution grounded in rigorous classical training and artistic breadth. Kalamazoo Ballet became a charter member of the Mid-States Regional Dance America Association, earning early recognition for its commitment to high artistic standards and professional performance.

From its inception, the Company’s repertoire encompassed classical ballet, traditional Highland dance, and contemporary works, reflecting Thérèse Bullard’s belief in artistic versatility, musicality, and disciplined training. The accompanying Bullard School of Ballet provided structured education for dancers of all ages while maintaining uncompromising technical standards.

A Legacy of Professional Outcomes

Over the decades, dancers trained at Kalamazoo Ballet have gone on to distinguished careers in ballet, choreography, teaching, and the performing arts. Alumni have joined or performed with renowned organizations including:

  • American Ballet Theatre

  • Boston Ballet

  • Miami City Ballet

  • Pacific Northwest Ballet

  • Royal Winnipeg Ballet

  • Royal Ballet

  • Metropolitan Opera Ballet

  • National Ballet of Ukraine

  • Ontario Ballet

  • Winifred Haun Dancers

  • Joel Hall Dancers

These outcomes reflect Kalamazoo Ballet’s long-standing role as a serious training institution with professional-level standards and expectations.

Thérèse Bullard: Founder and Artistic Architect

Born in England and raised in Canada, Thérèse Bullard trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and danced professionally with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Radio City Music Hall Ballet, and the Royal Academy of Dance in London. Her career included performances on major television programs featuring artists such as Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, Jimmy Durante, and Robert Goulet, as well as touring the eastern United States in Brigadoon.

Thérèse’s teaching career extended internationally. She served on the faculties of Wichita State University, Western Michigan University, Creighton University, and Nazareth College, and conducted master classes throughout Europe, Canada, England, Malaysia, and Japan. She held a Master’s Degree in Communications from Western Michigan University and studied under influential teachers including Phyllis Atkins, Grace Holdich, Gwenyth Lloyd, Gladys Forrester, and Antony Tudor.

Her contributions to the arts were recognized with numerous honors, including the Irving S. Gilmore Kalamazoo Medal of Arts Award (1988), the Thistle Award from the Scottish Society of Kalamazoo (2007), and the Community Dance Advocacy Award from Western Michigan University (2009). She was named an honorary member of Regional Dance America in 2007 and honored again at the National Regional Festival in Montréal in 2012.

Continuing the Legacy at Tye Chua Dance

The legacy of Kalamazoo Ballet continues today under the leadership of Aimee Tye and Angi Polderman, Directors of Tye Chua Dance. Both received their foundational ballet training at Kalamazoo Ballet under Thérèse Bullard, where they developed a shared commitment to technical excellence, artistry, and disciplined instruction.

Under their direction, Tye Chua Dance carries forward the historic mission, training philosophy, and standards of Kalamazoo Ballet, offering structured classical ballet education from early childhood through advanced levels. The school honors its heritage while nurturing new generations of dancers in a professional, supportive environment grounded in decades of institutional knowledge.

An Enduring Institution

For over six decades, Kalamazoo Ballet has been woven into the cultural fabric of the Kalamazoo arts community. Its influence is reflected not only in awards and accolades, but in the lives and careers of the dancers it has trained and the artistic standards it continues to uphold.

Founded in 1965, Kalamazoo Ballet’s legacy lives on today at Tye Chua Dance — preserving the traditions of classical ballet while shaping its future.

 
 
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