Image Credit: Davin Luce, GlennaTurnbull.com
May 10, 2013 - 11:14 AM
An outpour of community support is helping Ballet Kelowna from closing its doors.
Despite worries the school was headed for bankruptcy last March, a new board of directors has since stepped in to ensure the 2013-14 artistic season will go forward.
The school is making an impressive comeback, tripling its membership since January. Numerous donations have been made and ticket sales are up from recent concerts including the sold-out season's end performance and the Dancing with Friends benefits concert.
Ballet Kelowna director Lori Larson says the support has been very heartening.
"Membership has increased dramatically after the announcement last March," she says. "It demonstrates the public is really clear they want the company to continue."
Larson says the school is going forward with a shortened season, "but we still have to be very careful."
A request for funding will come before Kelowna city councillors on Monday. The school is seeking a $30,000 grant that would come from the City's 2013 Professional Arts Operating Grant, which also supports the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013