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2017 ANNUAL REPORT BOARD OF GOVERNING TRUSTEES THE MISSION of American Ballet Theatre is to create, to As of December 31, 2017 present, to preserve, and to extend the great repertoire of classical dancing, through exciting performances and educational programming Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith, Founders Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994), Honorary Chairman Emerita of the highest quality, presented to the widest possible audience. OFFICERS Andrew F. Barth, Chairman David H. Koch, Sharon Patrick, Martin Sosnoff, Vice Chairmen CONTENTS Brian J. Heidtke, President Board of Governing Trustees 2 Nancy Havens-Hasty, Treasurer Melissa A. Smith, Secretary Mission Statement 3 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Letter from Leadership 4 Andrew F. Barth, Chairman Brian J. Heidtke, President Kevin McKenzie: Celebrating 25 Years David H. Koch, Vice Chair as Artstic Director 6 Sharon Patrick, Vice Chair Stewart R. Smith, Chair, Audit Committee Company Roster 8 Melissa A. Smith, Co-Chair, Development Committee; Chair, Strategic Planning Committee Beth Chartoff Spector, Co-Chair, Development Committee Company Promotions 9 Sarah Arison, Chair, Education Committee Valentino D. Carlotti, Co-Chair, Finance Committee Nancy Havens-Hasty, Co-Chair, Finance Committee Orchestra 10 Martin Sosnoff, Co-Chair, Investment Committee Douglas C. Wurth, Co-Chair, Investment Committee Performances 12 Reynold Levy, Chair, Nominating Committee Lisa Smith Cashin, Member-at-Large Dancer & Teacher Training Programs 22 TRUSTEES Community Engagement & Outreach 28 Linda Allard Sonia Florian Paula Mahoney Jenna Segal* Kara Medoff Barnett Pamela Ford* Nancy McCormick Charles Segars Special Events 34 Francesca Macartney Beale William J. Gillespie Bill McIntosh Sutton Stracke Hamish Bowles Sheila Grant Kevin McKenzie Jean Volpe The Ratmansky Project 40 Audre D. Carlin Henry P. Johnson* Ruth Newman John L. Warden, Esq. Amy R. Churgin Wendy Evans Joseph Howard S. Paley Mark E. Watson III* Financial Reports 42 Susan Feinstein Christian Keesee Anka K. Palitz Joseph A. Wilson Christina Fish Theresa Khawly Karen C. Phillips* Staff 44 Donald Kramer Matthew Rubel Donors & Sponsors 46 CHAIRMEN EMERITI HONORARY TRUSTEES Donald M. Kendall Hamilton E. James Mildred C. Brinn Mrs. Byam K. Stevens, Jr. Melville Straus Lewis S. Ranieri Ricki Gail Conway Anne M. Tatlock Charles H. Dyson Edward A. Fox Alexander C. Ewing Blaine Trump Stephen J. Friedman Donald Kramer Deborah, Lady MacMillan Nancy Zeckendorf Peter T. Joseph Robin Chemers Neustein *Joined in 2017 Sarah Lane and Daniil Simkin in Giselle. Photo: Erin Baiano. CONTENTS | 3 LETTER From the Chairman of the Board, President of the Board, Artistic Director & Executive Director In 2017, American Ballet Theatre affirmed our Opera House with more than 3,500 children and commitment to excellence, innovation, and parents for ABTKids, and nearly 4,000 public school inclusion. And then we raised our ambitions and our students and teachers for the Young People’s Ballet expectations. Workshop. Our programs and residencies in schools and with Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide reached Our mission calls us to extend the canon of great thousands more, igniting imaginations. classical dancing. In 2017, we produced a healthy slate of new work, including Whipped Cream, ABT’s brand Our training pipeline is robust and thriving. Ten new full-length ballet with original choreography and members of ABT Studio Company were promoted to design. Whipped Cream premiered at the Segerstrom Apprentice, and seven JKO students were promoted Center in Costa Mesa in March and at the Metropolitan to Studio Company in 2017. ABT Summer Intensives Andrew F. Barth, Kevin McKenzie, Opera House in May, receiving critical acclaim and attracted 1,350 students from 38 countries. Efforts Kara Medoff Barnett, capturing the imaginations of audience members of to promote diversity and inclusivity have yielded and Brian J. Heidtke. all ages. The choreography by Alexei Ratmansky, the encouraging results: 30% of our summer intensive Photo: Rosalie O’Connor. sets and costumes by Mark Ryden, and the music by students and 40% of JKO School students in 2017 are Richard Strauss, combined for a “candyland triumph” from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic (New York Times) that provides ABT with new touring backgrounds, up from 25% and 29%, respectively, in opportunities worldwide. 2016. the premiere of Whipped Cream and announced a be the best place to work in the performing arts, and significant fundraising effort T– he Ratmansky Project we are consistently pursuing professional development In addition, ABT presented three world premieres We focused on building infrastructure to support – which allows ABT to produce world premieres each and community-building opportunities for our hard- in October 2017 at the David H. Koch Theater. One rapid innovation and audience development worldwide. year by our remarkable Artist in Residence Alexei working team. of these works, Counterpoint for Philip Johnson Our facilities at 890 Broadway received a much- Ratmansky. And the Fall Gala celebrated Project Plié, by choreographer Benjamin Millepied, surprised needed upgrade in 2017 with the renovation of the our industry-leading initiative to promote racial and We are privileged to be part of this vibrant and and delighted audience members at intermission, ABT Lounge. The transformation was supported by ethnic diversity in classical ballet. In addition to record- dynamic community and to steward America’s National animating the Grand Promenade level of the Koch an anonymous donor and Architectural Digest, and our breaking galas, box office revenues were substantial, Ballet Company®. Theater and its famous tiered balconies. The dancers, new community gathering space was featured in a due to increased ticket sales and improved dynamic members of ABT Studio Company and the Jacqueline beautiful spread in the magazine. pricing. Almost 4,500 more tickets were sold in 2017 Onward! Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School, relished the opportunity than in 2016 for performances during ABT’s spring to perform during the Company’s fall season. Our digital infrastructure is the next area of marked season at the Metropolitan Opera House. improvement for the Company, as work began in 2017 Among other touring destinations, the Company for a new website that will serve ABT’s present and The has never been traveled to the Middle East, bringing Giselle to Muscat, future audiences worldwide. ABT Trustee Karen Phillips talent both on stage and off stronger. In 2017, three dancers were promoted to the Andrew F. Barth Brian J. Heidtke Oman. As is our tradition for over 77 years, American and Infor were the catalysts behind this new and rank of Principal: Sarah Lane, Christine Shevchenko, Chairman of the Board President of the Board Ballet Theatre travels the nation and the globe, essential portal. and Devon Teuscher; and Calvin Royal III was transporting a Company of 130 dancers, staff and crew promoted to Soloist. With five new trustees joining our along with several tractor trailer trucks or shipping Our financial foundations have been strengthened ranks in 2017 and a newly created Chief Administrative containers of scenery, costumes and equipment. by a record year in contributed income, with two Officer position overseeing human resources and legal extraordinary galas, honoring ABT’s former Chairman functions, the ABT Family is led by mission-driven, In an annual tradition, we introduced families to the Hamilton E. James in May and ABT Trustee Valentino Kevin McKenzie Kara Medoff Barnett committed, effective staff and volunteers. We aspire to magic of the performing arts, filling the Metropolitan D. Carlotti in October. The Spring Gala celebrated Artistic Director Executive Director 4 | LETTER LETTER | 5 2017 marks the 25th Anniversary of Kevin McKenzie’s artistic leadership of American Ballet Theatre. For a quarter century, Kevin has led ABT with exacting standards, ample laughter, and deep kindness. As ballerina Gillian Murphy says: “His positive energy has drawn and developed an ABT community that is vibrant and dynamic.” We are honored to support and propel his artistic vision. Below is a selection of milestones from his extraordinary career. SEPTEMBER 1967 1993 MAY 2004 Entered Washington School Received an honorary degree Conceived and directed of Ballet (alongside his sister of Doctor of Arts from full-length Raymonda with Maureen) Saint Michael’s College in Anna-Martine Holmes Colchester, Vermont 1974 JUNE 2007 Joined the Joffrey Ballet DECEMBER 1993 Staged The Sleeping Beauty Choreographed with Gelsey Kirkland and The Nutcracker Michael Chernov MARCH 1979 Joined American Ballet Theatre as a Soloist MAY 1993 JANUARY 2009 Staged revival of David Blair’s Appointed Alexei Ratmansky Swan Lake as Artist in Residence with DECEMBER 1979 American Ballet Theatre Promoted to Principal Dancer with ABT JUNE 1995 Staged Don Quixote with OCTOBER 2014 Susan Jones Staged Raymonda 1990 Divertissements with Irina Co-founded Kaatsbaan Kolpakova International Dance Center in MAY 1998: Tivoli, New York with Gregory Staged Giselle Cary, Bentley Roton and OCTOBER 18, 2017 Martine van Hamel KEVIN MCKENZIE 1999 Celebration of 25th Anniversary as Artistic Won Dance Magazine Award, Director with American Ballet OCTOBER 1992 presented to him by Martine Theatre Celebrating 25 Years Named Artistic Director of van Hamel American Ballet Theatre AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARCH 2000: Choreographed Swan Lake Photo: Gregory Heisler. KEVIN MCKENZIE: CELEBRATING 25