Ballet Kelowna Raises over $40,000 in Successful
First Annual Fundraising Campaign

Community donations exceed target for Ballet Kelowna’s year-end Celebrate Excellence Fundraising Campaign

Ballet Kelowna announces that its first annual Fundraising Campaign raised more than $40,000, solidifying a strong finish to the Company’s fiscal year end. Donations were received from over 120 supporters across the province, in addition to an anonymous donor who generously matched $5,000 of the donations made between June 24 and June 30, 2015.

The anonymous donor’s unique offer to match contributions sparked enthusiasm and helped carry the campaign’s final total above the target. Ballet Kelowna sought $40,000 from the community by June 30 and received a total of $42,335.

Similar to the fundraising strategies of other professional dance companies in Canada, Ballet Kelowna’s annual year-end campaign will play an important role in the Company’s continued fiscal success. Ballet Kelowna’s Board President Deborah Ward is grateful to all who helped end the Company’s year on a great note.

“Thank you to our staff, volunteers and Board members for all of the hard work, and a special thank you to the community for the overwhelming show of support,” says Ward.

Artistic Director and CEO Simone Orlando is also extremely pleased with the results of the Celebrate Excellent Fundraising Campaign.

“The support from our community has a huge impact on the careers of our dancers,” says Orlando. “They are so eager to grow and develop as artists and in turn share their energy and emotion with audiences and young people in the community.  The funds raised ultimately help our dancers in their pursuit to deliver awe-inspiring dance.”

Ballet Kelowna’s dancers are currently participating in The Banff Centre’s prestigious Summer Professional Dance Program where they have been working with the 2015 Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award winner, Gabrielle Lamb.

Commissioned by The Banff Centre in partnership with Ballet Kelowna, Ms. Lamb’s new work titled Glas will make its world premiere July 9 – 11, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. on the Dance Masters programme at The Centre’s Margaret Greenham Theatre.
Ballet Kelowna is gearing up to unveil new performances, programs and training opportunities over the 2015/16 Season, starting this September.  The official announcement of Ballet Kelowna’s 2015/16 Subscription Series is scheduled for release in the coming weeks.

ABOUT BALLET KELOWNA
The founding of Ballet Kelowna in 2002 continues the long-lasting ballet legacy of Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, co-founders of The Canadian School of Ballet (1938) and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (1939). The idea for starting a ballet company in Kelowna was initiated by then Canadian School of Ballet’s directors (1985-2011) Melville Brown and Lori Larson, along with Founding Artistic Director David LaHay. Ballet Kelowna, through its touring, school performances and outreach activities has visited more than 60 communities in Western Canada, giving audiences and students a wonderful opportunity to experience the energy and artistry of a professional ballet company. Under the artistic leadership of Simone Orlando, Ballet Kelowna brings excellent, inspiring and memorable dance to Kelowna and the Canadian west and fulfills its mandate to commission new work from emerging and established Canadian choreographers, while presenting masterworks from the world’s ballet canon.