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Dominion Supports Richmond Ballet On Tour

10/6/2008

DOMINION SUPPORTS RICHMOND BALLET ON TOUR

Richmond Ballet has received a three-year $150,000 grant to support Richmond Ballet On Tour from Dominion, one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy. Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this season, Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is expanding its tour schedule to include performances in West Virginia as well as communities across the Commonwealth and in North Carolina.

Dominion, a long-time corporate supporter of Richmond Ballet, has underwritten the ballet company’s annual tour since 1995. Dominion has also sponsored other performances, including the world premiere and revival performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Ballet’s performance at New York’s Joyce Theater in John Butler: An American Master. The latter performance was a collaborative presentation that included Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet NY and renowned guest artist Desmond Richardson. In recent years, Dominion also made generous donations to the Anniversary Campaign, helping to fund the Ballet’s new production of The Nutcracker, and the Raise the Roof Campaign, which helped the Ballet move into its current landmark location on Canal Street.

Speaking on behalf of the Ballet, Managing Director Keith Martin noted that the company had never performed in West Virginia, despite the fact that the Ballet has performed from Florida to New York in recent seasons.  “This Dominion grant allows Richmond Ballet to perform in communities with smaller arts budgets, bringing professional dance to these communities often for the very first time.”

Dominion is also making possible a variety of education and outreach programs at each tour stop, including student performances, lecture demonstrations and master classes.  According to Martin, “These expanded residencies, which will have a real impact on the entire community from elementary school students through senior adult participants, would not have been possible without support from Dominion.”

In addition to the tour grant, Dominion will be the title sponsor for the Ballet’s February performance of Cinderella at The Landmark Theatre.

Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education, promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of ballet.  Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values.  Now in its 25th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission is to “awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists.”  

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For further press information contact:
Aaron Sutten, Director of Marketing and Communications
EMAIL: asutten@richmondballet.com; CALL: (804) 344-0906 x244