Betty Soulé

In honor of Betty Soulé, a charter member and one of our first seamstresses, the Board of Directors of Community Ballet Association proudly announces the creation of the Betty Soulé Create-A-Costume Fund. [Read More]

Because of her love for the art of ballet and her daughter's participation as a student, Betty Soulé was delighted when, in 1963, she was invited to become a charter member of what would soon be named Community Ballet Association, Inc. From that day forward, Betty has been donating her time and talents to Community Ballet, and for 33 of these years she donated thousands of hours and tons of energy sewing for the Huntsville Ballet Company (HBC) and Community Ballet School.

Betty's first sewing tasks were in 1965 when she began making the backdrops, legs and small curtains for Mr. Tygett to paint for Swan Lake, Shindig, and Cinderella. Tutu construction was Betty's next major project. Betty visually dissected a tutu once worn by Maria Tallchief of the New York City Ballet Company.
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Then, in 1969 came The Nutcracker where Betty proved there was no project too big for her, including Mother Ginger! Betty created our first Mother Ginger costume, covering Mother Ginger's very tall frame and enormous hips with yards and yards of fabric, lace and ruffles. She also made the Red Rose tutu and the cavalier's jacket, costumes for the Sugar Plum Fairy, Chinese, Arabian, Russian, Clara and the party girls, the orchids, clowns, party mens' pants and the Harlequin Dolls, plus the bedding for the large and small beds. As new characters were added each year, Betty made their costumes too. She created Spanish, Dawn Fairy, and Snow Princesses, the cavalier jackets and some of the trained animals.

Betty has sewn too many costumes to list here. From 1965 - 1998 she has made sometimes all, the costumes for the following ballets: Wing Shadow; The Comedians; La Boutique Fantasque; Peter and the Wolf; Three Dances for J N; Delibes Impressions; Don Juan; Fun with Foster; Chimarosiana; Pas de Quantre; Gloriana; Pas Romantique; Jubilee; Mother and Child; Fete au Jardin; Cameo; Folk Ayres; Matinee Musicales; Spalicek; Carmina Burana; Songs Along the River; Star Wars Sequel; Les Sylphides; Dracula; Kind Hearts and Gentle People; Arietta; Sylvan; Images; Rhodora; La Lune; Ragtime; La Sylphide; Graduation Ball; Granados Variations; Bournoville Divertissements; Red, White and Blue; Carmen; Box Lunch Picnic; Fete Galante; Arietta; Somewhere Out West; Serenata; Coppelia; The Soul Painter and the Shapeshifter; Aurora's Wedding & Chaplin.

When the HBC traveled for out of town performances, Betty was right there with them, sewing all the while. In addition, she made costumes for the HBC's numerous mini performances and Community Ballet Association's annual Garden Party. Betty continues to amaze us with her energy and talents.

Betty Soule Create- A -Costume Fund.
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Betty Soule Create- A -Costume Fund.

Like so many of us, Betty Soule's love for and commitment to Community Ballet began when her daughter, Linda, became a student.In 1963 Betty became a charter member of what would soon be named Community Ballet Association, Inc.From that day forward, Betty has been donating her time and talents to Community Ballet, and for 33 of these years she donated thousands of hours and tons of energy as the Sewing Mistress for the Huntsville Ballet Company (HBC) and Community Ballet School.

Betty's first sewing tasks were in 1965 when she began making the backdrops, legs and small curtains for Mr. Tygett to paint for Swan Lake, Shindig, and

Cinderella.Tutu construction was Betty's next major project.Having been given a costume, Betty dissected it, piece by piece, and created her own tutu pattern from which numerous tutus eventually danced their way around the stage.

Then, in 1969 came The Nutcracker where Betty proved there was no project too big for her, including Mother Ginger!Betty created our first Mother Ginger costume, covering Mother Ginger's very tall frame and enormous hips with yards and yards of fabric, lace and ruffles.She also made the Red Rose tutu and the cavalier's jacket, costumes for the Sugar Plum Fairy, Chinese, Arabian, Russian, Clara and the party girls, the orchids, clowns, party mens' pants and the Harlequin Dolls, plus the bedding for the large and small beds.As new characters were added each year, Betty made their costumes too.She created the animals, Spanish, Dawn Fairy and Snow Princesses.

Betty has sewn too many costumes to list here.From 1965 - 1998 she has made sometimes all, the costumes for the following ballets: Swan Lake, Shindig, Cinderella, Wing Shadow, The Comedians, La Boutique Fantasque, Peter and the Wolf, Three Dances for J N; Delibes Impressions, Don Juan, Fun with Foster, Chimarosiana, Pas de Quantre, Gloriana, Pas Romantique, Jubilee, Mother and Child, Fete au Jardin, Cameo, Folk Ayres, Matinee Musicales, Spalicek, Carmina Burana, Songs Along the River, Star Wars Sequel, Les Sylphides, Dracula, Kind Hearts and Gentle People, Arietta, Sylvan, Images, Rhodora, La Lune, Ragtime, La Sylphide, Graduation Bal/, Granados Variations, Bournoville Divertissements, Red, White and Blue, Carmen, Box Lunch Picnic, Fete Galante, Arietta, Somewhere Out West, Serenata, Coppelia, The Soul Painter and the Shapeshifter, Aurora's Wedding, and Chaplin.

When the HBC traveled for out of town performances, Betty was right there with them, sewing all the while.In addition, she made costumes for the HBC's numerous mini performances and Community Ballet Association's Annual Garden Party.Betty continues to amaze us with her energy, and talents.