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A Brief History
Since its inception as an official non-profit organization in 1969, Delta Festival Ballet’s artistic integrity and excellence in performance have made it a motivational force in the cultural maturation of Louisiana. Through the presentation of professional productions and the collaboration with other cultural institutions and businesses, the company had been able to foster the growth and appreciation of the art of dance in audiences of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds in metropolitan New Orleans, and in smaller, less culturally rich communities throughout the state.
Delta Festival Ballet is Louisiana’s largest resident, professional dance company with a school and a junior company, the New Orleans Youth Ballet, which affords an opportunity for intensive study and performing experience to local, talented dancers who wish to pursue professional dance  careers. As Artistic Directors and founders, Joseph Giacobbe and Maria Giacobbe have spent the last 38 years making DFB a remarkably stable, innovative and professional entity with more than 50 ballets and divertissements, ranging from 19th Century classics to popular rock ballets, in its repertoire. Both Joseph Giacobbe and Maria Giacobbe are internationally known for their skill as directors and teachers of classical ballet. Through DFB, the NOYB and their school, Giacobbe Academy of Dance, they have trained many dancers who now fill the ranks of major ballet companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Houston Ballet, London Festival Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre of England, and many more.
Delta Festival Ballet is strongly committed to arts-in-education and devotes a large portion of its programs and services to young people. The 2007-2008 Season will mark the 26th anniversary of the immensely successful “Children’s Concert Series” with its tour of the Nutcracker. The series, the first of its kind in Louisiana, designed and inaugurated by DFB in 1981, has grown from a small periphery to an audience of 25,000 students statewide. Each year the company invites thousands of economically disadvantaged students to attend these performances free of charge. For any of these children, it is the first opportunity they have to experience a professional ballet theatre production. Famous ballets such as the Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and Peter and the Wolf, among many others, have been offered to young audiences throughout this series. Continuing the education inside the classroom, DFB provides study guides to all participating educators. This tool is designed to reinforce the children’s own creative reactions to the dances they see. Expanding its outreach efforts, DFB’s artistic personnel work in conjunction with other dance/arts related groups in the community. Under the auspices of Young Audiences, the company presents in-school productions throughout the entire school year, often traveling to outlying areas (Houma, Boutte, Covington and more). Master classes, choreography, guest teaching and the appearance of DFB’s dancers on the faculty roster of several arts organizations all indicate the comprehensive effect that a resident dance company has on its community.
As the official ballet company of the New Orleans Opera Association, Delta Festival Ballet performs in the operas containing dance sequences. In addition to collaborating with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra to present the Nutcracker every December, DFB also produces a full-length ballet each year for the LPO’s “Family Discovery Series.” The two organizations have presented classics such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, The Red Shoes and Snow White.
About the Directors
 Joseph Giacobbe, Artistic Director
As Artistic Director and cofounder of the company, Joseph Giacobbe graduated cum laude from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. Both he and his sister, Maria Giacobbe, are internationally known for their skill as directors, choreographers, and as teachers of classical ballet. The August 1996 issue of Dance Magazine ran a feature article on Mr. Giacobbe and the school he operates with his family, Giacobbe Academy of Dance (established 1943). Mr. Giacobbe has taught Master Classes for virtually every major national and regional dance teacher’s organization in the United States and Canada.
In addition to his work with Delta Festival Ballet, New Orleans Youth Ballet and Giacobbe Academy of Dance, Mr. Giacobbe has also served in many capacities for many regional and national committees and organizations, such as President of Louisiana Association of Dance Masters, Vice-President of Dance Masters of America, Director of the Dance Program at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, among others. Mr. Giacobbe has been associated with the New Orleans Opera Association since 1967, and since the early 1970’s, has been the resident choreographer.
Maria Giacobbe, Artistic Director
Artistic Director and cofounder of the company, Maria Giacobbe, performed with the USO, the New Orleans Opera Association and other local cultural organizations in the New Orleans area. She graduated cum laude from Loyola University with a Bachelor Science degree in physical education. She taught in Orleans and Jefferson parish schools for over seventeen years. One of the founders of Giacobbe Academy of Dance, Ms. Giacobbe has also been an integral player in the success the dance school.
In 1989, Maria Giacobbe and Joseph Giacobbe were honored by the Arts Council of New Orleans with the Mayor’s Arts Award for their outstanding contributions to the New Orleans arts community. In 1993, the Giacobbes, accepting on behalf of Delta Festival Ballet, received a proclamation of honor from the New Orleans City Council for 25 years of service to the city.
Richard Rholdon, Ballet Master
A native of Louisiana, Richard Rholdon received early dance training in New Orleans, and continued his studies in New York City on a scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre School. After returning to New Orleans, he performed with many local dance organizations and was a guest artist for both the New Orleans Opera and the Houston Grand Opera. He joined Delta Festival Ballet as a soloist in 1986. He has served as the Regisseur for the junior company, New Orleans Youth Ballet, since its formation in 1988, and in 1994, was named Ballet Master for DFB. He is on the faculty of the internationally recognized Giacobbe Academy of Dance.
One of the most active choreographers in the state, Mr. Rholdon has created many full-length ballets as well as shorter divertissements over his many years with DFB. His full-length ballets include Cinderella, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Hansel and Gretel. Mr. Rholdon has also choreographed a number of other works, in a variety of styles, including Grande Tarantella, Slavic Symphony, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, Dvorak Serenade, Ballet Jeunnesse, and Rock Around the Clock.
Robyn Sodaro Schmidt, Company Administrator
Ms. Schmidt received her early dance training in Houston, TX and is a graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She continued her dance training with full scholarships to schools such as Joffrey Ballet School and Hartford Ballet School. In 1995, she joined Delta Festival Ballet as a soloist, then from 1997-1999 performed with the Nashville Ballet. She moved back to New Orleans in 2000 and joined the faculty of Giacobbe Academy of Dance.
In addition to dance training and performing, Ms. Schmidt pursued business education and administrative work with several arts and non-profit companies. She was a member of the administrative staff for both Nashville Ballet and Nashville Ballet School. She began administrative work for Giacobbe Academy of Dance in 2001 and Delta Festival Ballet in 2003.
Board of Directors
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JoAnn Neumann
Steven Olson
Joan Patrick
Alan & Darlene Reyes
Kerri F. White
Marianne Zimmer
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Delta Festival Ballet
Post Office Box 7425 Metairie, Louisiana 70010 Phone (504)888-0931 Fax (504)888-0941
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