History

Placer Theatre Ballet (PTB) was founded in 1998 and presented its first production of The Nutcracker that winter.  What began as a small production with just 35 dancers has grown over the years into a full-scale, pre-professional Ballet company.  Our productions now regularly include over 100 young ballet dancers who train at dance studios throughout the region.  Our annual production of The Nutcracker has been performed for over 45,000 patrons and has become a cherished holiday tradition for many area families.  Our productions introduce many patrons from South Placer and beyond to the beauty and charm of downtown Auburn and the lovely and historic Placer High School Theater.

In 2001, PTB added a second ballet to our season, annually producing a Ballet in the Spring, as well as our presentation of The Nutcracker.  Our spring ballets have included Alice in Wonderland, A Festival of Great Ballets, Cinderella, Coppelia, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.  We have also produced benefit performances for other non-profit organizations, including Live Oak Waldorf School and the Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center, and have performed for Stand Up Placer annually since 2006.

Excited to reach out to the community we started our school only performances in 2008.  This program allows schools from around the area to send their students to a ballet production as a field trip.  For many of these children this is their first time attending the ballet.  Students from Georgetown to Roseville to Grass Valley have attended our performances for schools.

Our founder Pat Colgate brought PTB’s first production to stage almost single-handedly.  Parents began volunteering, and PTB was formed.  For 13 years Ms. Colgate brought PTB productions to the stage as Artistic Director.  During her time as Artistic Director, Ms. Colgate produced Alice in Wonderland, A Festival of Great Ballets, Cinderella, The Nutcracker,  and Snow White.  After building PTB into a regional pre-professional ballet company, Ms. Colgate retired in 2011.

Originally from San Diego, Shea Wing has been with PTB since 2008 in a myriad of roles including performer, choreographer, stage crew, volunteer and guest director.  When Ms. Colgate retired in 2011 our Board of Directors turned to Mr. Wing to fill the vacant Artistic Director position.  Since Mr. Wing became Artistic Director, he has produced several full length ballets for PTB, including Cinderella, Coppelia, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.