Eugene Ballet Company Dancers Launch Campaign to Save Their Jobs

Eugene, OR, March 28, 2009 --(PR.com)-- In fear of losing their jobs, the 21 dancers at the Eugene Ballet Company (EBC) have launched a Fundraising Campaign, “Dancers Act Now" to help their company survive these tough economic times. EBC officials say the 30-year-old professional dance company is now facing a $130,000 deficit because of reduced ticket sales. They say this deficit could potentially force them to reduce their number of dancers next season.

Jackie LaRue, The Development Director at the Eugene Ballet Company says, “The dancers are actually raising money to save jobs for dancers. They have been getting e-mails from dancer friends across the company asking if there is any work. Other companies nationwide are cutting weeks of work or simply closing their doors. Our dancers have decided to be proactive, and to prevent EBC from ever getting to that point they’re doing this fundraising campaign to help the general operating budget.”

Some of the 21 professional full-time dancers for EBC who perform four shows annually in Eugene, and about 60 tour shows along the West Coast, say they have even had to take on other roles in the community outside their contractual duties with EBC because of this financial crisis.

But in their fight to keep their passion for dance and their world-class performances alive in the community, the ballet dancers have launched a website for their "Dancers Act Now' Campaign to increase awareness about the urgency of their situation. They are asking for donations, and encouraging people to attend their upcoming events.

And to generate funds to help sustain their company, they are also selling t-shirts and tickets at the EBC headquarters in West Eugene for their upcoming fundraising event “Casino Night with the Ballet”. The entertainment-filled evening at the Downtown Athletic Club will include live ballet performances, a jazz singer, appetizers, wine and more.

The Eugene Ballet dancers are also urging community members to support them by purchasing tickets for its second-ever performance of the adventure-filled children’s version of “Peter Pan” at the Hult Center of the Performing Arts on April 18th and 19th.

About Eugene Ballet Company: As the only professional ballet company between Portland and San Francisco, the Eugene Ballet Company relocated its 21 dancers from around the world to Eugene from Boise, Idaho in September. This is the first time in the company’s 30 year history that the dancers have lived in Eugene. The professional dancers at the internationally renowned company stay busy performing at the Hult Center of the Performing Arts in Eugene, OR and touring shows along the West Coast and in Alaska. The Eugene Ballet Company also offers dance instruction at the Eugene Ballet Academy, formerly the Eugene School of Ballet, at its headquarters in the Midtown Arts Center.

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