Nonprofit Profile: Safe Haven Ballet
In our "Nonprofit Profile" series, we're introducing you to the many nonprofits from around the state, and the people who are behind them
New Hampshire is home to dozens of nonprofits that provide much needed services and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to Granite Staters. The staff members and volunteers who help these organizations run have hearts that beat for the communities they serve. Our nonprofits play a vital role in every town, in every region of our state, and help make New Hampshire be the best place it can be. In our “Nonprofit Profile” series, we’re introducing you to the many nonprofits from around the state, and the people who are behind them.
For our latest profile, we’re meeting with Portsmouth’s Safe Haven Ballet, and their founder and Executive Director, Lissa Curtis. Read on to learn about the first-of-its-kind trauma informed ballet studio and company, and their mission to reshape the ballet world while providing free trauma sensitive classes to survivors of sexual/domestic violence and trauma.
New Hampshire Magazine: Tell us about yourself! What is your role at Safe Haven Ballet?
Lissa Curtis
Lissa Curtis: My name is Lissa Curtis, and I am a wife, mother to two very active little boys, a blackbelt, professional ballerina and the founder and Executive Director of Safe Haven Ballet.
NHM: What is Safe Haven Ballet’s mission?
LC: Safe Haven Ballet is the very first trauma informed touring professional ballet company and pre-professional ballet school. We exist to create uplifting ballet performances and provide weekly free trauma sensitive classes to survivors of sexual/domestic violence and trauma.
NHM: When was Safe Haven Ballet founded and why?
LC: Safe Haven Ballet began in 2019 by offering weekly free Trauma Sensitive ballet classes for survivors of sexual violence. I suffered a life changing trauma at the hands of a former ballet director and coach. I was sexually assaulted and raped repeatedly on an international flight and in a foreign country. I didn’t know if I would make it home. It was miracle that I made it back to the United States. I fought for nine years in and out of court against my abuser in a criminal and civil suit. I suffered greatly with C-PTSD, was on suicide watch, couldn’t work and relived my trauma daily for years. I desperately searched for peace and healing from pain that was too much for anyone to bear. I had years of therapy, a family that loved and supported me, medication, but what helped me take tangible steps forward was moving my body in a safe/tranquil environment where I could breathe. When I had only been home a few days from escaping my trauma, I had a vivid God dream. In it was a building that said Safe Haven Ballet with arms that held a hammer and point shoes. I heard a voice saying, “You are not done dancing. I have things for you to build.” I laughed off the dream then, but now I am living that dream, serving and uplifting survivors through the arts.
NHM: What services do you provide?
LC: We provide a safe trauma informed space for professional ballet dancers and students as well as holding open auditions to the community for our touring productions. Unfortunately, mistreatment, harassment, body shaming, yelling and belittling are far too common in today’s ballet world. Safe Haven Ballet is making a ground breaking difference. We also provide weekly free trauma sensitive classes that rotate between ballet, pilates, yoga, paint night and cupcake decorating. These classes are small (less than 5 people), encouraging, and meant to bring down the central nervous system for anyone struggling with trauma.
NHM: How has Safe Haven Ballet grown since its beginning?
LC: Safe Haven Ballet began by offering weekly free trauma sensitive classes and within the first year held two open auditions for “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker.” Today, we reside in a beautiful studio with cathedral ceilings and gorgeous windows in Portsmouth. We have a growing pre-professional school, seven paid company artists, three apprentices and six trainees. Our board of directors hosts our largest fundraiser (our cornhole tournament on June 22nd!), and we have a talented group of wardrobe volunteers who have outfitted our dancers beautifully on stage. Safe Haven Ballet has between 20-25 touring performances and community outreach event each season.
NHM : What’s next? What are you looking to do over the course of the next year?
LC: We are in rehearsals for our original production of “Romeo & Juliet.” This ballet production has not been staged and performed by a New Hampshire ballet company in more than 40 years! This iconic love story is action packed, with vibrant dancing, moments of narration and a stunning score by Prokofiev. We are making history as we tour to The Music Hall on May 5, The Lowell Memorial Auditorium on May 16, The Nashua Center for the Arts on May 18 and the Capital Center for the Arts on May 19. We are in the process of hiring more professional ballet dancers and are looking to expand our student body especially as we prepare for our Christmas tour of “The Nutcracker” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” this upcoming November and December.
Lissa Curtis and Joseph LaChance as the Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier in “The Nutcracker”
NHM: What is the impact that Safe Haven Ballet is looking to make in New Hampshire and beyond?
LC: My goal for Safe Haven Ballet is to change the face of the entire ballet world, both here in New Hampshire and across the globe. We want to lead the way in training and inspiring other organizations to become trauma informed and take on and adapt our policies and procedures for a safe and healthy environment for our artists and athletes. I want to see the change in this generation and the ones to come! We want to be a beacon of hope and light as I know first-hand how difficult it is to overcome trauma and fight to get your life back on track.
NHM: What has been your favorite part about working for Safe Haven Ballet?
LC: It is hard not to get emotional when I see survivors under the stage lights and in front of hundreds of people when they participate in our productions. It is a beautiful metaphor of stepping into the light and being seen when often survivors are forgotten. We value everyone at Safe Haven Ballet. I love seeing the growth and connection develop within our community.
NHM: How can our readers get involved with Safe Haven Ballet?
LC: Anyone that is interested in dance at any age and any level will be welcome to join us on this exciting journey we are on. Please come and attend one of our incredible productions or community event fundraisers. We would love you to sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media, and reach out for volunteer opportunities. Lastly, we have a sponsorship program on our website that we would love to have you join us in seeing our vision be funded and celebrated.
For more information about Safe Haven Ballet, their performance and class schedules or for information on how to support their mission, visit their website at safehavenballet.org
Do you know of a New Hampshire nonprofit that we should profile? Nominate them by emailing assistant editor Elisa at EGonzalesVerdi@outlook.com
