Letters to the Alumni

Herci and Myles Marsden performing Don Quixote

Dear Dancers - Past and Present:

This year, The State Ballet of Rhode Island celebrates 50 seasons of:

• Bringing arts education to New England*
• Allowing artists to aspire*
• Living our core values*
• Leveraging diverse talent*
• Entertaining audiences*
• Teaching the art of ballet *

This important milestone was achieved through our collective hard work, commitment and passion for the ballet. For 50 years, I have mentored, educated, inspired, and motivated you to do your best and to believe in your capabilities. My role was not only to teach you about the art of ballet but to instill values that would become an important foundation to enable your success.

As alumni, you have earned a perpetual place in my heart and are indelibly etched into the fabric of The State Ballet of Rhode Island. You were not just dancers but family. Our alumni not only refers to our dancers, but everyone who has contributed to our ballet's success - board members, parents, designers, artists, musicians, and choreographers.

With our 50th celebratory year, I invite each of you to take the first step toward reconnecting with the State Ballet of Rhode Island. Our May performance of Giselle and 50th Gala Celebration at the Dune's Club provide two immediate ways to get involved.

Our State Ballet web site (www.stateballet.com) also highlights some additional ways for you to further support the Ballet's mission of arts education. Every aspect of support, regardless of size, is a symbol of your commitment to our legacy.

As family, regardless of the time that has passed, you are always welcome back home.



Please see the Giselle and Gala .PDF

February 1, 2010

Dear Patron of the Arts,

The State Ballet of Rhode Island's 50th Performing Season is well underway. Many exciting events have already taken place including our successful performance of Coppélia in December and the release of the limited edition book, The Golden Ballerina: Celebration of a Lifetime in Ballet, by Artistic Director Herci Marsden. However, there are still many events yet to come in 2010, including our spring performance of Giselle to include alumni dancers on May 14-15, SBRI's 50th birthday on November 19th, and the highlight event of the season: the exclusive Golden Anniversary Gala on June 6 with the establishment of the Herci Marsden Scholarship Fund.

As we prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime Gala celebration, the Gala Planning Committee is focused on creating a unique event that will commemorate this historic occasion and will be inclusive of business leaders, performers, alumni, volunteers, and community members from throughout the 50 years of the Company's rich history. The Golden Anniversary Gala will be held at the members-only Dunes Club in Narragansett, a truly historic ocean side venue to complement this memorable event, and will include:

• Pre-dinner reception with vocalist Kelley Lennon
• The 14 piece Night Life Orchestra for dinner and dancing
• Anniversary dinner with champagne toast
• Special performances by SBRI's principal dancers
• Prominent guest speakers
• Special video presentation of 50 years of SBRI's history
• Silent and live auctions of one-of-a-kind memorabilia

Business leaders and individuals are invited to support this event through attendance and/or sponsorship. Your sponsorship will be noted in the Gala Program Book, on signage at the event, on the company's website, and is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service (501c(3) nonprofit). Please refer to the enclosed listing of Sponsorship Opportunities. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the Gala, please complete the enclosed Sponsorship form. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at (401) 334-2560 or at info@stateballet.com and we will be happy to assist you.

We appreciate your consideration to help make The State Ballet of Rhode Island's Golden Anniversary Gala a very special occasion to celebrate Ms. Herci Marsden's most unique achievement in the arts community: 50 golden years of arts and education for the citizens of Rhode Island and its neighbors.

Sincerely,



Read more about sponsorhip opportunites

Download the sponsorship letter and donation form