Chattanooga Ballet Annex

Chattanooga Ballet is both a professional dance company and a teaching school serving dancers from age three upwards. The organisation operates from two locations: the main studio and offices at 817-B N Market Street, and the Annex Studios (East & West) at 607 N Market Street in downtown Chattanooga.

The school offers ballet training at all levels, aiming to inspire students in their passion for dance and provide foundational ballet education. The company itself performs classical and contemporary works, offering what they describe as exceptional technique and artistry unavailable elsewhere in Chattanooga. In performance, the company provides dancers and choreographers with professional opportunities.

Chattanooga Ballet's approach centres on asking who, where, how and what they serve. This philosophy drives both their school programmes and their enrichment work. They partner with Boys & Girls Club, The Bethlehem Center, and the City of Chattanooga to deliver the Making Moves programme—classes specifically constructed to provide focus, health, and artistic exploration for students who might not otherwise have access to world-class dance training. The organisation works to overcome geographical, economic, and societal barriers through touring, scholarship, and community programs.

The leadership team brings significant experience. Brian McSween serves as CEO and Artistic Director, having previously held the position of Ballet Master for Ballet Memphis under Dorothy Gunther Pugh, where he was commissioned for three works. His professional dance career included performances with Joffrey Ballet, Complexions, and Aspen Ballet, and he has taught, coached and judged internationally. Nena Widtfeldt, Director of Education and Upper School Principal, trained at Contra Costa Ballet School under former American Ballet Theatre dancers and spent two years at Tokyo Ballet School; she graduated in 2012 from Brigham Young University on a dance scholarship and danced with BYU's Theatre Ballet company. Elena Bozzone, Lower School Principal, joined in 2024 and danced professionally with Roanoke Ballet Theatre and Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, performing in classical works including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Snow White, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Carmen, and Dracula. Monica Ellison, Making Moves Program Coordinator, holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University and has performed professionally with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2, Balance Dance Theatre, and in off-Broadway productions.

Chattanooga Ballet is a 501(c)(3) charitable institution, an ArtsBuild Community Arts Partner, and is supported by grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. The organisation operates with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, providing an inclusive atmosphere where every student is trained to their greatest potential.

You will find professional-calibre instruction grounded in classical ballet technique. Classes serve dancers aged three and upwards at various levels. The school emphasises both athletic foundation and artistic development.

Brian McSween (CEO/Artistic Director) brings experience from Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Memphis. Nena Widtfeldt (Director of Education) trained at Tokyo Ballet School and danced with BYU's Theatre Ballet company. Elena Bozzone (Lower School Principal) performed professionally with Roanoke Ballet Theatre and Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. Monica Ellison (Making Moves Coordinator) holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University and has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 and Balance Dance Theatre.

Classes begin at age three and the school aims to provide foundations of ballet education to dancers of all ages.