Image Credit: Glenna Turnbull, GlennaTurnbull.com
May 13, 2013 - 8:07 PM
With a $30,000 grant approved by city council this afternoon Ballet Kelowna hopes to dance for another 10 years.
The grant was approved earlier this year but put on hold when the dance school revealed it was looking at a financially uncertain future.
On the first of February the school announced it would be closing its doors due to financial setbacks. Through hard work on behalf of a new board directors and a surge in community support Ballet Kelowna was able to revive itself and move forward with a shortened 2013/14 season.
The school's season finale performance last March was the first to sell out since its founding 10 years ago and ticket sales are up 77 per cent.
The school is now looking forward to perform for School District No. 23, UBC Okanagan, as well as their holiday performance of the Nutcracker.
Councillor Mohini Singh was pleased to hear of the school's ambitions for the future remain intact, and expects it will boost Kelowna's cultural reputation.
“It has the name kelowna attached to it, you are also our ambassadors and you take that with you wherever you go,” she said.
Having performed in Chilliwack, Burnaby, Vancouver, throughout the Okanagan and northern interior and from Fort McMurray down to Medicine Hat, the school says they're spreading the word Kelowna is home to a vibrant arts community.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013