As of now, ticket sales for The Nutcracker are at 85%, and they have seen a surprising amount of generosity from arts lovers concerned about the Ballet’s future if they do not reach their goal. The company has avoided bankruptcy, but still needs $200,000 in pledged donations in order to bring Artistic Director John Alleyne and the dancers back to the studio next year. So far, supporters have pledged $25,000, and if every audience member who attends The Nutcracker donated $15, they will reach their goal. While they can now reorganize their finances and present a plan to their creditors, their future is still dependent on the generosity of the public.

The Chair and President of the Board of Directors, Graeme Barrit, is optimistic that the ballet will continue and re-emerge in 2009 as a stronger and better Ballet BC. John Alleyne is also very grateful for all the support that the company has gained thus far. “Speaking on behalf of all the dancers and staff at Ballet BC, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Board and most importantly, the people of Vancouver, for their unwavering support and commitment to the survival of Ballet BC. Moving forward, we are excited to begin preparations for the future, ensuring Ballet BC remains a vibrant and necessary part of the cultural landscape.”

The next scheduled production for Ballet BC is Carmen which will be staged February 26-28 as long as the dancers are able to return to the studio this January to begin rehearsals. With so many individuals and dance lovers supporting the ballet, it is hard to imagine the company ceasing to exist. So far, the public has shown that they want Ballet BC to continue by buying tickets to The Nutcracker and pledging their monetary support, but the company still has a lot of work ahead of them and they still need a great deal of financial help in order to continue without cancelling any more shows in 2009.

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