NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta Ballet Hosts Back to the Stage Ball: A Global Affair

$3.3 million raised for Atlanta Ballet Relief and Recovery: Back to the Stage Campaign

ATLANTA (April 26, 2021) – Given the advancement of vaccinations in metro Atlanta and the lift of public gathering guidelines, Atlanta Ballet announced today that its annual Ballet Ball will go on. On Thursday, May 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., guests will have the option to attend the Back to the Stage Ball: A Global Affair virtually from home, or in-person at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. Led by co-chairs Vanessa Delmer, Taylor Meyer, Araya Mesfin and Doug Weiss, and hosted by Emmy Award-winning host and senior producer for NPR’s “Morning Edition” Lisa Rayam, the Back to the Stage Ball will support Atlanta Ballet’s campaign raising critical funds to provide relief and recovery from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

“We are thrilled to provide the community with two ways to come together safely to support Atlanta Ballet and its goal to get its dancers back to the stage,” says Meyer. “After more than a year of cancelled performances, postponed fundraisers and exclusively Zoom-based events, this will be a fun and exciting opportunity to raise funds to augment our campaign efforts while providing for much needed donor engagement.” 

• Guests who attend virtually or in-person will experience the following:
  • Video performances of Company dancers performing variations from Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird and Marius Petipa’s Giselle, an excerpt from Jules Perrot’s Pas de Quatre, and Possokhov’s Study in Motion, as well as Atlanta Ballet 2’s performance of Passage by former Centre student Christina Carlos.
  • Human interest features of dancers, behind the scenes footage, and access to the mobile auction highlighting travel, attractions, entertainment, food, and wine. 
• Guests who choose to attend the virtual, at-home experience will have the opportunity to have chef-prepared, multi-course meal(s) and wine home-delivered prior to the event, observe exclusive digital previews with video vignettes of rehearsals, conversations in the wings, and more.
• Following CDC safety protocols and maintaining limited capacity, guests who attend in person at The Foundry at Puritan Mill will enjoy “Urban Garden Cocktails and Conversation” with Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin, followed by a delicious multi-course seated dinner, and live remarks from Atlanta Ballet leaders.

Atlanta Ballet announced last October its efforts to raise $5 million over three years to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic with its Back to the Stage Campaign. More than 3,000 gifts and pledges account for $3.3 million raised thus far, including lead gifts from the Atlanta Ballet Board of Trustees, the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the Zeist Foundation, AT&T Foundation/WarnerMedia, The Home Depot Foundation, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and hundreds of loyal patrons eager to see Atlanta Ballet on the mainstage.

“Our inability to present indoor theatre performances due to public health guidelines, our limited ability to conduct classes, and our restricted ability to offer donor engagement experiences this year had a profound effect on our operating budget,” said Nancy Field, Chair of Atlanta Ballet’s Board of Trustees. “In order to fully recover and provide some cushion as we approach the 2021|2022 performance season, we launched a $5 million campaign over three years to fund basic needs including dancer, musician, faculty, and staff employment, as well as production and school operations. As Board Chair and a longtime supporter of the organization, I am so proud to see such a wonderful response and feel beyond grateful to fellow supporters who are all uniting to get our performers back to the stage.”

Proceeds from the Back to the Stage Ball benefit performance through artistic innovation, education through diversity and inclusion, and sustainability through operational capacity. 

Tickets to Atlanta Ballet’s Back to the Stage Ball: A Global Affair are on sale to the public now and can be purchased here. More information and details about Atlanta Ballet’s Back to the Stage Campaign can be found here.

 

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About Atlanta Ballet

Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official state Ballet of Georgia. Atlanta Ballet's eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals. After 90 seasons, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance. In 1996, Atlanta Ballet opened its Centre for Dance Education, which is dedicated to nurturing young dancers while providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. The Centre serves over 150,000 people in metro Atlanta each year. Atlanta Ballet's roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city's cultural growth and revitalization. For more information, visit www.atlantaballet.com, follow us on Twitter @atlantaballet, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlantaballet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Julia Berg | Director of Public Relations – Atlanta Ballet
jberg@atlantaballet.com | 404.226.1127