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Dominion Resources to Sponsor Richmond Ballet's The Nutcracker for 2009

9/10/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2009

Media Contact:
Aaron Sutten
(804) 344-0906 ext. 244
asutten@richmondballet.com

 RICHMOND -Richmond Ballet is pleased to announce that Dominion Resources will be the exclusive title sponsor for the 2009 production of The Nutcracker in Richmond, as well as the company’s performances of The Nutcracker in Norfolk. Dominion has a long history of generously supporting Richmond Ballet programs.

“We are thrilled to have Dominion as our partner for this very special Nutcracker season as we return to the newly-renovated Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage. Dominion’s continuing support has been vital to the growth of Richmond Ballet, as we have progressed from a local student ballet company to The State Ballet of Virginia, performing in New York and Chicago and garnering national attention and acclaim,” said Artistic Director Stoner Winslett. “We also look forward to taking The Nutcracker back to Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, where we were received with such enthusiasm last season.”

William C. Hall, Jr., vice president-Corporate Communications & Community Affairs for Dominion, said:

“Richmond’s reputation as an increasingly important cultural center is important not only to citizens of our metropolitan region but to our entire state and mid-Atlantic region. Richmond Ballet’s role in nurturing our reputation for cultural excellence is prominent and growing. We are pleased to support The Nutcracker.”

The Richmond Ballet professional company has presented The Nutcracker for Richmond audiences each December for the past twenty-five years. The popular ballet, featuring Tchaikovsky’s famous score, has become a holiday tradition for many Richmond area families; more than 25,000 audience members flocked to the performances in 2008. Richmond Ballet has presented The Nutcracker in the Hampton Roads area twice in the past three years: at Christopher Newport University in Newport News in 2006, and last December at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, where more than 7,000 area residents attended the performances.

Richmond performances this season will be held December 11-23. Students from the School of Richmond Ballet will join the professional company on stage, and the Richmond Symphony will once again add the magic of live accompaniment. The Norfolk production will be held December 4-6. Children from Norfolk area dance schools will join School of Richmond Ballet students for the Chrysler Hall performances, and the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Children’s Chorus will once again provide live music for the production.

Winslett has high hopes for the Norfolk tour. “We would like for the Richmond Ballet production of The Nutcracker to become an annual tradition in the Hampton Roads area, just as it has in Richmond. With Dominion’s support, we hope to make this a reality.”

The Richmond performances of The Nutcracker are also generously supported by grants from the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. The Norfolk performances are made possible in part through a partnership with the Virginia Arts Festival.

Headquartered in Richmond, Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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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. Entering the 26th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission is to “awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and artists.”

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