1. November 2014
Dear [NAME],
Every time I walk onstage to greet our audience, I think about all of the amazing
dancers, choreographers, designers, staff, crew, and donors like you that make
what we do possible. Smuin Ballet presents world-class art, and we could not take
one step onto the stage without your support.
Thank you for being an integral part of the Smuin Ballet family.
For over twenty years, Smuin Ballet has presented powerful, entertaining,
and accessible dance to audiences throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
I have made it my mission to honor the legacy of our founder Michael
Smuin by reinvigorating many of his wonderful ballets, while also keeping
our Company at the forefront of American dance with innovative new
choreography. Our performances uphold the highest professional and
artistic standards, and we continually strive to achieve even greater heights.
Ticket sales account for less than 40% of Smuin Ballet’s annual budget. To
cover costs such as shoes, costumes, and theater expenses, we turn to you.
n Our 16 dancers use over 350 pairs of shoes a season (pointe
shoes, ballet slippers, tap shoes, and more), which cost between
$50 and $100 a pair, totaling $35,000 annually;
n We build, purchase, and refurbish 340 costumes every season,
with a single new costume requiring 22.5 hours of labor. Each
costume costs $100 - $825, equaling $150,000 a year;
n Theater rentals and stage crew expenses range from $70,000 to
$108,000 per run. Presenting in four cities across the Bay Area
costs $1,080,000 each year.
The arts are a vital part of what makes our community a fantastic place
to live. While many arts organizations are closing or cutting back on
performances due to the challenges of renting space and navigating
the rising costs of the Bay Area, we are proud to continue to bring you
compelling and exhilarating dance performances in your home venue.
[NAME], we deeply appreciated your previous generosity and hope you
will continue to support Smuin Ballet.
I look forward to seeing you in the theater soon!
With kind regards,
Celia Fushille
Artistic Director
P.S. Did you know that it takes 100 pounds of snow each holiday season to transform
The Christmas Ballet into a winter wonderland? Your support makes it possible!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Bruce Braden President • Patti Hume Founding President • Dell Larcen Vice President • Edward H. Schweitzer Treasurer
Karen D. Kadushin Secretary • F. Thomas Aden • Lee D. Baxter • David Berger • Robert Challey • Alan L. Kaganov, Sc.D • Edie Kirkwood
John Konstin • David M’Raihi, Ph.D TRUSTEES EMERITI Vicki Fleishhacker • John Murphy • Susan Stitt
![November 2014
Dear [NAME],
Every time I walk onstage to greet our audience, I think about all of the amazing
dancers, choreographers, designers, staff, crew, and donors like you that make
what we do possible. Smuin Ballet presents world-class art, and we could not take
one step onto the stage without your support.
Thank you for being an integral part of the Smuin Ballet family.
For over twenty years, Smuin Ballet has presented powerful, entertaining,
and accessible dance to audiences throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
I have made it my mission to honor the legacy of our founder Michael
Smuin by reinvigorating many of his wonderful ballets, while also keeping
our Company at the forefront of American dance with innovative new
choreography. Our performances uphold the highest professional and
artistic standards, and we continually strive to achieve even greater heights.
Ticket sales account for less than 40% of Smuin Ballet’s annual budget. To
cover costs such as shoes, costumes, and theater expenses, we turn to you.
n Our 16 dancers use over 350 pairs of shoes a season (pointe
shoes, ballet slippers, tap shoes, and more), which cost between
$50 and $100 a pair, totaling $35,000 annually;
n We build, purchase, and refurbish 340 costumes every season,
with a single new costume requiring 22.5 hours of labor. Each
costume costs $100 - $825, equaling $150,000 a year;
n Theater rentals and stage crew expenses range from $70,000 to
$108,000 per run. Presenting in four cities across the Bay Area
costs $1,080,000 each year.
The arts are a vital part of what makes our community a fantastic place
to live. While many arts organizations are closing or cutting back on
performances due to the challenges of renting space and navigating
the rising costs of the Bay Area, we are proud to continue to bring you
compelling and exhilarating dance performances in your home venue.
[NAME], we deeply appreciated your previous generosity and hope you
will continue to support Smuin Ballet.
I look forward to seeing you in the theater soon!
With kind regards,
Celia Fushille
Artistic Director
P.S. Did you know that it takes 100 pounds of snow each holiday season to transform
The Christmas Ballet into a winter wonderland? Your support makes it possible!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Bruce Braden President • Patti Hume Founding President • Dell Larcen Vice President • Edward H. Schweitzer Treasurer
Karen D. Kadushin Secretary • F. Thomas Aden • Lee D. Baxter • David Berger • Robert Challey • Alan L. Kaganov, Sc.D • Edie Kirkwood
John Konstin • David M’Raihi, Ph.D TRUSTEES EMERITI Vicki Fleishhacker • John Murphy • Susan Stitt](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/30130a15-b405-4411-aecd-6267eee731c9-160706014218/85/Letter-for-List-1-1-320.jpg)
