Storm damage leaves Bartlesville ballet fighting for its season

Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
July 9, 2026

When the Fourth of July storms rolled through downtown Bartlesville, they found their way into Bartlesville Civic Ballet's studio.

High winds from the holiday storm blew off a portion of the roof at the ballet's building, allowing water to pour inside. By the time the damage was discovered, the studio had taken on an estimated 4 to 5 inches of water.

Company Dancers assist with the removal of the ballet floor.
Provided by Jen May

"It drenched everything," said Kathy Zervas, development chair for the Bartlesville Civic Ballet and a board member for more than 40 years.

Carpet, clothing, tutus, T-shirts, brochures, posters, CDs and DVDs were all caught in the flooding. Plaster began coming off the walls. Standing water covered the studio's specialized dance flooring, designed to protect dancers' bodies while they train and perform.

The roof has since been repaired, but the bigger concern now is what comes next: drying out the building, preventing mold and figuring out whether the space can be ready in time for the fall season.

"We have to rethink everything," Zervas said.

Volunteers rush in to save what they can

Volunteers removed the Marley and modular subfloor to the sidewalk outside the studio.
Provided by Jen May

Within hours of discovering the damage, Academy Director Nicole DeWitt and Board Facilities Chair Richard Smith began mobilizing volunteers.

Board members, company dancers, alums, parents and other volunteers spent the day pulling what they could from the building. Costumes, merchandise, equipment and decades of production materials were moved out of harm's way.

Volunteers carefully removed the studio's dance floor so it could begin drying out. Rice Creek Mini Storage donated storage space for the items rescued from the building.

"The response from our ballet family has been incredible," Board President Taylor Potter said in a statement. "Within hours, instructors, dancers, parents, alumni, and Board members came together to protect everything they could. While we're disappointed by the damage, we're encouraged by how quickly our community rallied together."

For Zervas, the scramble was about more than saving supplies.

"That's our history from every production we've done," she said.

'The worst thing that's ever happened to the ballet'

The Bartlesville Civic Ballet has spent 13 years in its current building, investing significant time and money into renovating the space and making it home.

Now, Zervas said, it feels like the organization is having to start over.

"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to the ballet," she said.

The timing does not help.

BCB said Academy classes should resume in just over 40 days, and the company's next production, "Cinderella," is scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 at The Center. That leaves little room for delay as the organization assesses repairs, addresses mold concerns and considers whether it will need a temporary studio.

Potter said the ballet is already working on contingency plans.

"We're working hard behind the scenes to make sure our dancers have a place to train and perform this season," Potter said. "BCB has overcome challenges before, and we're confident we'll move through this one together."

A growing ballet company now needs a helping hand

The damage comes as the Bartlesville Civic Ballet is entering its 56th season, following last year's landmark 50th production of "The Nutcracker."

It is also a time of major growth.

Zervas said the ballet has doubled in size over the past three years, growing from about 50 to 60 students to more than 110.

"We have a really good thing going, and we don't want that to stop," she said.

Now, the organization is asking the community to rally around it. BCB is looking for help with temporary studio space, in-kind donations, volunteer efforts and financial support as it works through the recovery process.

"We need help," Zervas said.

Those interested in assisting can contact the Bartlesville Civic Ballet at admin@bartlesvillecivicballet.com.

For more than five decades, the ballet has trained dancers, staged productions and helped keep the arts alive in Bartlesville. Now, after a storm that left its building soaked and its future logistics uncertain, the company is trying to do what dancers are trained to do: adjust, recover and keep moving.