Discover Chicago Ballet Arts in Evanston
Chicago Ballet Exchange, Photo Credit: Ken Greisman
Meet Maliwan Diemer, Executive Director of Chicago Ballet Arts. Located in the Maple/Foster business district, this organization's mission is to provide equitable access and opportunity to high-quality ballet training to all with the desire to learn. They strive to instill a love of dance, a respect for the classical disciplines necessary in a performing art, and an expanded capacity for excellence in all their students. See the full interview below.
KB: Can you share some of the history of CBA?
MD: CBA was started when founding director, Clare Carmichael, whose son was a dance student at the time, saw that the training opportunities for serious dancers were usually in exclusive, not always welcoming, environments. She wanted to open the doors to quality ballet training for anyone with the drive and determination to study at a high level. The nonprofit school spent 34 years on Chicago’s north and northwest side before moving to Evanston in the fall of 2020, where it is proud to continue upholding the values of excellence and inclusion. The move to Evanston has allowed CBA to expand its programs and it now has classes for ages 2 through adults.
KB: How does the Maple/Foster district support your business?
MD: The business owners that we’ve gotten to know in our district are wonderful! Maple/Foster is full of independently owned businesses run by caring, dedicated people. It is a hidden gem. We have felt very welcomed in this small but mighty district and are looking forward to growing with it and helping more people find out about all the great things you can do in our area.
KB: What can folks expect if they come to CBA?
MD: We hope that when people come to CBA, they feel welcomed into our dance family. They will experience classes with a talented, highly experienced team of artists, all eager to help nurture a love of dance. People may be surprised to learn that none of our programs, including our performance ensembles, require an audition in order to participate. Students from our Pre-Professional Division have gone on to not only pursue professional careers in dance, but also find success in a wide range of professions, as they can take the skills they’ve honed in the studio out into the broader world.
KB: How do you set yourself apart from other dance schools and organizations?
MD: Since its founding, CBA has been dedicated to providing an inclusive but rigorous ballet atmosphere for all with the desire to learn. We provide students in our Pre-Professional Division with a level of training that is not typically available without going through an audition process or being specifically selected for this type of track. We are also one of the few schools on the North Shore that features live piano accompaniment. Our commitment to opportunity and access has created a more diverse student body, filled with dancers who bond over a shared a passion for their art. As a nonprofit organization, we are able to really focus on mission driven work, which shapes all that we do.
KB: Any specials or services you’d like people to be aware of?
MD: We offer a Northwestern student discount for our Adult Division classes! We also offer prospective students in our Preparatory and Pre-Professional Division a free trial class so they can get to know us better. Fun fact - students as young as 5 years old get to experience live music in their ballet classes!
KB: What is your favorite thing about owning a business in Evanston?
MD: We love the opportunities being in Evanston has given us to connect and collaborate with other organizations and with the community. It has been exciting to give back and get involved, sharing the joy of dance both inside and outside of CBA.
Chicago Ballet Arts is located at 915 Foster St, Evanston, IL 60201 in the Maple/Foster District.