Immediate Release s1

Immediate Release December 23, 2016 Contact Jeanne Coen Canton Ballet Marketing Director 330.494.0094 [email protected] Ashley Bettis Event Chair [email protected] 330.324.0073

Canton Ballet kicks off Touchdowns & Tutus

A new fundraiser will bring gridiron to the dance floor

Kickoff time for Canton Ballet’s inaugural fundraiser Touchdowns & Tutus is 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Umstaddt Performing Arts Hall on the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus. A performance event will pair local high school talents with Canton Ballet dancers before a panel of celebrity judges. At 7:30 p.m. the VIP Tailgate Party, a meet and greet with the celebrities and performers and a tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will take place at the Pro Football HOF event center and will include specialty food, drinks and cash bar.

The Touchdowns & Tutus performance and the VIP after party are family friendly events.

Featured celebrities will include Cleveland Browns Daily analyst Matt Wilhelm; Sylvia (John) Mackey, Hall of Fame Class of 1992; two time Pro Bowler Vernon Davis of the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers; Emmy-nominated sports reporter Jamir Howerton; Tempy Moore, first female NFL-licensed professional artist for the Deacon Jones Foundation; renowned percussionist Elec Simon of the Cleveland Cavaliers Q-Stix and the Broadway touring company of STOMP; and Laura Alonso, international master ballet teacher and coach.

Dacia Biletnikoff, professional dancer and daughter of Oakland Raider legend and Class of 1988 Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff will perform with a surprise guest. Videos documenting the players’ journey with studio rehearsals, behind-the- scenes footage and interviews by sports journalist David Lee Morgan, Jr., will be shown. Morgan is author of LeBron James: The Rise of a Star. The football players and their schools are Tyler Adams, Louisville; Chris Anthony, Massillon; Griffin Baumoel, Central Catholic; Gerard Berroteran, St. Vincent St. Mary; Nick Binnie, Hoover; Trey Carl, Minerva; Jaret Holzopfel, Perry; Francisco Pedrozo, St. Thomas Aquinas; Dean Sarris, GlenOak; and Clayton Tabler, McKinley.

Touchdowns & Tutus is conceived of and chaired by Ashley Bettis, a Canton Ballet alumna, former professional dancer and current member of the ballet’s board of trustees. Sponsorship chairs are Ben Biery and Sylvia Mackey. An advisory board includes Canton mayor Tom Bernabei, deputy mayor Fonda Williams, Lauren Capo of Q92 radio, Angela Biletnikoff, Aultcare Outreach Services VP Mike Gallina, Hall of Famer Mike Haynes, attorney Andrew Morton and Canton Repository special events reporter Todd Porter. Canton Ballet artistic and executive director is Cassandra Crowley.

Admission for the performance is $25 adult, $15 student and $35 preferred Gold Seating. The VIP Tailgate Party admission is $25 adult and $15 student. Tickets are available online at cantonballet.com or call 330.455.7220.

Proceeds from Touchdowns & Tutus will benefit School of Canton Ballet financial aid, educational outreach and live music for all ballet classes. Canton Ballet studios and offices are located at the Cultural Center for the Arts in downtown Canton. Canton Ballet receives funding in part from ArtsinStark, Ohio Arts Council and the National endowment for the Arts.