2 minute read
Together for Ballet
We Are
The National Ballet of Canada launched the Together for Ballet campaign last November after cancelling the live performance season for 2020/21. Now, as we pursue our first season in the virtual realm, we are happy to share that donors like you are mitigating the loss with powerful expressions of generosity and community spirit. Along with our closest supporters, the campaign has attracted 485 first-time donors to the pressing, ongoing cause of supporting our dancers during this challenging time. It is impossible to convey the significance of your collective good will, not only for the health of the organization, but for the spirit of individual artists and staff who share your conviction that the arts are a vital part of what it means to be human.
With persistent uncertainty around the timing of our return to large in-theatre performances, we need your support more than ever. Going forward, Together for Ballet must raise additional funds to ensure that our artists can continue to train, create and connect with audiences nationwide through enhanced technology. This ensures that we will be ready to reunite with you safely and in a position of strength once live performances resume.
(continued on next page) Message from Karen Kain and Barry Hughson
Together for Ballet
Donor Spotlight
Spotlight Series
Dancer Spotlight: Piotr Stanczyk 8 The Nutcracker On Screen
YOU dance
Sharing the Stage
Building the Digital Stage
First Soloist Ben Rudisin on Working Through a Pandemic
A Quiet Champion: John H. Williams
In Brief
Send Your Words of Encouragement
national.ballet.ca
Preview newsletter is published quarterly by The National Ballet of Canada’s Development Department.
Director of Development: Diana Reitberger, CFRE Publisher: John Hart Preview Editor: Caroline Dickie Contributor: Rhea Daniels Art & Design: Carmen Wagner
We would love to hear from you. Please send your comments to: preview@national.ballet.ca
Christopher Gerty is sponsored through Dancers First by Ms. Nancy Viner & Dr. Raymond Stein.
Cover: Genevieve Penn Nabity and Christopher Gerty in The Dreamers Ever Leave You at Harbourfront Centre. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Your generosity to The National Ballet of Canada is helping to:
» Sustain the employment of 62 dancers, 12 apprentices and 66 musicians.
» Protect the safety of our artists through retrofits to our buildings, enhanced cleaning, regular COVID screening and additional health protocols.
» Maintain the Dancer Wellness programme to provide personalized care for dancers.
» Commission new ballets from Canadian choreographers.
» Create high quality digital programming like this winter’s
Spotlight Series.
» Share James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker across Canada in partnership with Cineplex.
» Adapt our flagship engagement programme, YOU dance, to virtual visits.
» Expand the RBC Apprentice Programme to 12 dancers who are participating in YOU dance virtual visits.
» Support the Toronto dance community through Sharing the Stage.
» Move In Studio ballet and fitness classes online.
» Enhance our digital technology so we can better capture and disseminate rehearsals and performances.
Together we can navigate the pandemic with grace, optimism and a deep sense of communal purpose. Thank you so much for standing with us in our time of need.
How You Can Help
We need your help to keep the artists of The National Ballet of Canada active, creative and connected with audiences in preparation for a strong return to the stage.
Please make your gift today.
