COMMUNITY OUTREACH
CULTIVATING culture NATASHA PARTRIDGE-BUTLER, FOUNDER, PEAR TREE PERFORMING ARTS
Improving Access to the Arts
PEAR TREE PERFORMING ARTS REOPENS AFTER RENOVATION It’s showtime for the participants of Pear Tree Performing Arts.The organization will open its doors this month after a four-year, multi-milliondollar historic renovation project.
The Beginning The organization was founded in 2010 by Lawrence Butler and Natasha Partridge-Butler, a husband-and-wife duo that wanted to provide artistic opportunities for youth who may not have the means or access to quality, affordable lessons. “Our mission is to nurture and cultivate a sense of culture, confidence, community and creativity in youth through the performing arts,” PartridgeButler said. “To do that, we provide an array of dance and theatre arts classes at various levels and for ages 2 1/2 and older. We also partner extensively with organizations and businesses that share our mission to ensure students have performance opportunities, see live shows, and work with professionals in creative industries.” Pear Tree Performing Arts started in the Benson Community Center and in 2013, moved to its current location on 48th Street and NW Radial
Highway. In 2017, a renovation project was launched to add more space and increase the capacity of the center’s programming.
The Renovation The project was originally slated to finish in less than a year, but funding fell through, and there were a lot of hoops to jump through. Finally, in 2020 construction began. The building, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places four years ago for being one of the original Hinky Dinky grocery stores, has a lot of history to it. “There have been a host of other businesses to occupy the space before us, and it is always interesting to hear stories of what the community remembers being in the building,” Partridge-Butler said. “We were able to maintain the original ornate tin tile ceiling and trim. “We kept the majority of the wood flooring in the ballet studio. The 8,800-square-foot facility updates include a 900-square-foot stage, complete audio-visual updates, multimedia area, additional classroom space and restrooms, efficient HVAC systems, solar panels, and the 1,200-square-foot Hitchcock Ballet Studio. We can’t wait to invite students and the community back in.”
Page 16 • December 3, 2021
