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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County’s only professional dance company has officially closed after more than 30 years in operation.
Founder Carol Erkes still holds decades of memories close.
“Oh my gosh, these are old. You can tell they’re all black and white,” she said, looking through old photos.
Erkes welcomed her first group of students to Florida Dance Theatre in 1994. At the time, it was known as the Lakeland School of Ballet. She later changed the name and transitioned the school into a nonprofit. She says that shift opened the door to government funding — and the chance to truly invest in children’s lives.
“I really loved all of them. It was never work. It was passion. It was joy on a daily basis,” she said.
After a successful 25-year run, Erkes retired in 2019 but stayed involved with the organization. She says things remained steady until after the pandemic — when community funding began to dwindle and some students stopped attending.
The final straw, she says, came last year when the theatre lost a grant worth more than $18,000 after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $32 million in state arts and cultural funding. That ultimately led the organization’s board of directors to vote to shut down in June.
In a statement, Tiffany Van Wieren, president of Florida Dance Theatre, said:
“The board’s decision to close was incredibly difficult and made after thoughtful reflection on the organization’s long-term sustainability. We are grateful to all those that helped the organization to have such a lasting effect. We’re proud of the legacy FDT leaves behind and the impact it’s had on our community.”
Erkes shares those sentiments, but admits it was difficult to accept the decision — until a recent conversation with a former student
“I said, ‘I’m so sad because I wanted Florida Dancing to be my legacy.’ And he said, ‘Carol, it is your legacy. I’m your legacy. All the people’s lives you affected are your legacy,’” she said.
A reminder that while the company has closed, Erkes’ impact will live on.
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Alexis Jones
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