SEASON
2020/21 ANNUAL REPORT
A NOTE FROM LEADERSHIP
The Washington Ballet faced unprecedented challenges throughout 2020 and 2021. Pandemic-era strictures prevented us from doing the one thing that has, until now, been essential to our work: gather together.
And yet, thanks to your support, today we can look back on the 2020–2021 season as a time of growth, innovation, and ultimately triumph, as The Washington Ballet developed new ways to connect with our patrons, donors, artists, students, faculty, and staff.
Digital programming and thoughtful partnerships enabled us to continue creating art and connecting with our community through ballet. TWB forged a new partnership with international streaming platform Marquee TV, producing an all-digital artistic season of world premieres, engaging some of today’s most exciting choreographers and pushing creative boundaries of dance on film, all while reaching audiences across the globe. Partners at the Washington National Cathedral commissioned TWB to create a new site-specific work; the resultant piece drew both live and virtual audiences.
Behind the scenes, TWB supporters connected through virtual events, such as the monthly BARRE TALK discussion series on YouTube and livestreamed studio sessions for members of the Balletomane Society and our new Family Giving Circle
At our school, Washington School of Ballet faculty quickly pivoted to offering live and on-demand virtual ballet classes and organized virtual student performance showcases throughout the year for more than 2,000 students of all ages from pre-ballet to adult. In the community, TWB modified its offerings to ensure uninterrupted enrichment through Dance DC on Demand and Digital Dance DC Live
All of our work was made possible by you–our patrons and supporters. You stepped in to raise more than $5.1 million through generous member support, event sponsorship of the annual Gala and The Nutcracker Tea Party, and extra donations through the Keep on Dancing underwriting campaign.
Because of you, we are Back on Our Feet and looking forward to seeing you in 2022.
Julie Kent, Artistic Director Managing Director2
3 2020–2021 AT A GLANCE TRAINING THE FUTURE 8 world premieres as part of TWB’s all-digital season Forbidden Endearment by Tamás Krisza* Chronos by Xiomara Reyes* Something Human by Andile Ndlovu* Womb of Heaven by Helga Paris-Morales* Unbound by Tamás Krisza* Orpheus by Dana Genshaft Werner Sonata by Silas Farley liminal by Stanton Welch Free and livestreamed world premiere at Washington National Cathedral Employing 43 professional Company and Studio artists from 15 countries BUILDING COMMUNITY 1,605 students at 23 DC and Maryland schools participated in Dance DC Free pre-recorded residencies for all Ward 7 & 8 public schools 90% of students at THEARC—188—receive sliding scale tuition More than $280,000 in waived tuition and enrollment fees for students at THEARC $1.4 million annual investment in our Southeast campus and community 1,000+ students attended virtual classes at The Washington School of Ballet 17,000 streams of TWB content in more than 100 countries on Marquee TV $ THE BEST IN BALLET PERFORMANCE ABOVE: TWB dancers Tamás Krizsa and Maki Onuki perform at the National Cathedral. Photo by xmbphotography * TWB Artists
CITY-WIDE IMPACT
The Washington Ballet is proud to be the ballet in and of the nation’s capital. Our reach throughout the DMV demonstrates our intentional focus on community impact.
Thanks to your support we provided opportunities to every Ward of DC and much of the surrounding region.
WARD 3
Free community performance at the Washington National Cathedral
The Washington School of Ballet: 930 students (FY20) and 655 students (FY21)
WARD 4
Free Latin dance classes
Tuition Assistance: $17,350
Arlington
WARD 2
Free Dance for All community events at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and National Portrait Gallery
Kennedy Center: National Dance Day performances CityCenter: Free community performances
WARD 1
Sitar Arts Center: 20 year partner
Free Latin dance classes
Fairfax
WOLF TRAP NATIONAL PARK FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Long-time TWB partner and the shoot location for Silas Farley’s Werner Sonata, a TWB world premiere on Marquee TV.
Thank you for selecting my daughter to receive a scholarship. It has helped me help her pursue her goals and dreams in dance.
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ABOVE: Alexa Torres Photo by Spencer
Bentley
–TWSB Parent
The dancers
of TheWashington Ballet
are some of the most highly trained, accomplished dancers in the world— and they’re right in our backyard!– TWB supporter and Ward 3 resident
Prince George’s Montgomery
WARD 5
Broadcast of The Nutcracker to Children’s National Hospital
Dance DC partner schools: 75 students Tuition Assistance: $22,261
WARD 7
WARD 6
Library Story Time
Dance DC brought my virtual classroom alive! During the height of remote learning, it was the only program that kept every one of my students consistently engaged.
– DCPS 4th grade teacher
Dance DC partner schools: 499 students Tuition Assistance: $43,613
Dance DC partner schools: 100 students
Free Library Story Time Tuition Assistance: $83,925
WARD 8
Southeast Campus at THEARC: 318 students (FY20) and 228 students (FY21)
438 hours of residency teaching in partner schools reaching 643 students
Free community events: 14 Tuition Assistance: $212,000
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Residency program reaching 220 students
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4
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5
1
by xmbphotography and Kelsey Arrington
Photos
FINANCIAL FY20–FY21
(ending June 30, 2021)
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, TWB income was $7.5 million lower than the prior year due to no ticket revenue and lower than usual tuition revenue.
As a non-profit arts organization, The Washington Ballet raises funds from many sources to supplement earned income from ticket sales and tuition. Gifts from individual contributions totaled $1.6 million in revenue for The Washington Ballet.
Our artistic and educational programming accounts for 80% of our total expenses.
2020/21 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jean-Marie Fernandez, Chair
Luanne Adams
Britt Biles
Jamie Boucher
Jane R. Cafritz
Evonne Connolly
Sylvia A. de Leon
Charles DeSantis
David DeSantis
Ginger Dietrich
Zulima Espinel
John Estes III
Emilia Ferrara
James Gale
Michael Goldstein
Heather Hughes Elizabeth Keeley
Dianne Keppler
Janice Kim
Sara Lange
Eric Larsen
Hanane Lemlih
Eve A. Lilley
Timothy R. Lowery
Joan McCarthy
Dorothy Pierce McSweeny
Michelle Montes
Michael Olding
Barbara Rothkopf
Martha Schwieters
Yolanda Scott
Deborah Sigmund
Jennifer Tulumello
Patricia Wu Lowell Yoder
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EXPENSES 37% 28% 25% 10% REVENUE AND SUPPORT 35% 28% 27% 10% Grants & Contributions Earned Revenue Special Events Other:
Performances Education General Administration Fundraising
COVID-19 Relief
OUR SUPPORTERS
2020/21 SEASON SPONSORS
The Washington Ballet extends its deep gratitude to Dr. Luanne Adams and Murrell Smith, Buffy Cafritz*, Virginia McGehee Friend, Eve and William* Lilley, Jacqueline B. Mars, Norah and James Orphanides, Barbara and Arthur Rothkopf, Martha and John Schwieters, Ted and Mary Jo Shen, and Anna-Marie Parisi-Trone and Robert Trone for their generous season support.
*In memoriam
In honor of the Global Partnership between The Washington Ballet and The State of Qatar, TWB recognizes Ambassador H.E. Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani as the Executive Chair of the 2020/2021 Season.
2020/21 DANCER SPONSORS
The Washington Ballet further recognizes David and Sandra Berler, The Honorable Ann Brown Armeane and Mary Choksi, Judith A. Lee, Jody Katz and Jeffrey Gibbs, Betsy and Mike Keeley, and Dianne and John Keppler for investing in our talented company members.
2020/21 INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
Thank you to our generous partners: Fight For Children, The Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Charitable Trust, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, England Family Foundation, GKV Foundation, Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, Shubert Foundation, Share Fund, The DeLaski Family Foundation, Harman Family Foundation, Dimick Foundation, Leidos, Geico, Pepco, M&T Charitable Foundation, Glenmede, Northrop Grumman, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs
Thank you to all members of the Balletomane Society, Ballet Corps, The Women’s Committee & Friends, and Jeté Society for your ongoing support.
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ABOVE: Helga Paris-Morales Photo by Spencer Bentley
Avenue NW
20016
ID Number: 52-0846173
3515 Wisconsin
Washington, DC
washingtonballet.org Tax
Front Cover: TWB Artists Ariel Martinez and Andrea Allmon. Credit xmb Photography. Back Cover: TWB Artist Andile Ndlovu. Credit xmb Photography.