Announcement of the Passing of Elizabeth Pope
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth Pope, the visionary founder of Atlantic Dance Theatre.
Founded in New Bern, North Carolina in 1985, Atlantic Dance Theatre was created as a nonprofit organization with a mission close to Elizabeth’s heart: to bring professional dance performance to the New Bern area and to bring professional dancers into schools, giving students—many of whom might not otherwise have the opportunity—the chance to experience the beauty and discipline of the dance arts. Elizabeth’s focus was always on uplifting and building young lives through the joy of dance.
Under Elizabeth’s leadership, the organization touched the lives of thousands of young people, enriching our community by opening doors to creativity, expression, and culture. Her passion for making dance arts accessible has left a legacy that will continue to inspire for generations.
The board of Atlantic Dance Theatre is working to establish a meaningful way to honor Elizabeth’s life and create the legacy she so richly deserved.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who were touched by her remarkable life and work. Further details regarding opportunities to honor Elizabeth will be shared as they become available.
About Atlantic Dance Theatre
ADT is a service organization promoting the art of dance in Craven and surrounding North Carolina counties.
Our mission is to bring the joy of dance to Eastern North Carolina through collaborative educational opportunities and public performances.
Founded in 1985 by Elizabeth Pope, we continue impacting the community by providing financial support to bring professional dancer such as Solo Sana – a West African Dancer and drummers, Onslow Veteran’s Pow Wow – Native American Dancers, Carolina Ballet – traditional ballet dancers, Flamengo Vivo – Spanish dancers and Highland Echoes – Celtic musicians and dancers.
How Your Support of Dance Helps the Children We Serve:
- Dance helps kinesthetic learners who may not be strong visual or auditory learners.
- Dance both frees a child’s energy and helps them learn to manage their energy within the bounds of choreography.
- Dance teaches how to work through frustration to find success in goals.
- Dance builds a healthy body alignment that feels good.
- And always, always DANCE spreads JOY!
Let us know that you would like us to come to your school or receive more information by using the “Contact Us” button below.
For elementary schools, state funding only provides for one music or one physical education or one arts teacher per 191 students. Our mission is to fill that gap and bring dance arts to kids! Click “Donate” to join cause and allow ADT to be an opportunity for you to give back to the lives of so many in our community.
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