Dancers, survivors to perform with Safe Haven Ballet in Laconia

LACONIA — Lissa Curtis was 23 and living in Portsmouth when she connected with a Romanian ballet teacher who saw promise in her and invited her to take part in a competition in his home country. He told her she would meet important people and likely land coveted guest appearances in prestigious dance companies.

Instead, the newly married, hopeful dancer says she was raped and sexually assaulted by him. Repeatedly, she said, on the flight and in Romania. "I was lucky to make it back home," Curtis said. "I was in very severe shape."

For years, Curtis lived with constant anxiety and PTSD. "Having an episode looked like having a sex tape flashing through my brain, and I couldn't turn it off," she said. "I was seeing and reliving the trauma. My body would shake uncontrollably. I would disassociate and feel like I was still in the other country. It was horrific."

After years of therapy, medications and battling suicidal thoughts, Curtis began to find healing in body movement, and in the simplicity of tuning in to her own breath. She attended a trauma-sensitive yoga class and began karate as well, eventually earning her black belt.

The work led her in founding Safe Haven Ballet in the original sanctuary of Connect Community Church on the ocean in Portsmouth in 2019. Its free, weekly, trauma-sensitive movement classes set it apart from other studios, and they give Curtis the sense she is giving back.

This Saturday, April 9, she will perform in the lead role of "Cinderella" at the Colonial Theatre, performances are at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Curtis finds the role particularly meaningful, given that "Cinderella" is a survivor, too.

"My absolute favorite moment in the ballet is the second time in Act 2 that the stepmother goes to discipline and slap Cinderella in the face. Cinderella catches the slap and defends herself," Curtis said. "She finally has the courage to stand up against the abuse. It’s a very powerful moment. An audience back in March cheered loudly because it was so unexpected and powerful. No other production of Cinderella has done this, to my knowledge and vast research. It brings tears to me every time we dance and act that moment."

Also unique about this adaptation of the classic ballet is that it features hip-hop dancers and several participants of the trauma sensitive movement classes at Safe Haven.

For tickets, visit coloniallaconia.com/tickets-events.

Curtis' story has been told in national publications and by online bloggers and news reporters. And she continues to tell it herself and fight the battle. While no charges were brought against her coach and teacher by FBI investigators, she said a civil charge is still pending.

At 31, she is proud to focus on her work as the founder and executive director of Safe Haven Ballet. She said its weekly, free movement classes rotate from ballet to art classes to movement classes each week.

The troupe has nine paid company members and roughly 50 students in training who can also perform.

Curtis began dancing as a young child and has been dancing professionally for fifteen years. She trained with the Boston Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Burklyn Ballet Theatre. She holds a comprehensive certification in classical Pilates from Peak Pilates and holds bachelor's degrees in kinesiology/exercise science and theatre and dance from the University of New Hampshire.

Past roles as a principal ballerina with Northeastern Ballet Theatre included "Lucy" in "Dracula," "Belle" in "Beauty and the Beast," "Laurencia" in "The Pirate and the Gypsy," and the "Evil Queen" in "Snow White."

Curtis and her husband, Phillip, have a two-year-old child, and Curtis is pregnant with their second. She said Cinderella will be her last performance for some time.

As she looks forward to the new challenge of a second child, Curtis will also continue to lead Safe Haven Ballet with strength and determination.

She said patrons – even those who are non-ballet lovers – have embraced the company's mission and support the work. "We're experiencing heavy growing pains, which is a great problem to have as a baby nonprofit," she said. "We're expanding and bringing in some more staffing."

By 2023, she hopes to launch a trauma-sensitive program for children. "We've had requests from crisis centers and mental health counselors," she said, noting it will take time to bring the idea to life.

In addition to its selection of annual performances, including "The Nutcracker" during the holiday season, Safe Haven Ballet also offers the Annual Be BRAVE Gala, which has raised more than $60,000 for New Hampshire crisis centers since 2016.

To learn more about Safe Haven Ballet or make a donation, visit safehavenballet.org.