2009-2010 ANNUAL REPORT Table of Contents Kathy Selker Remarks PAGE 1 Victoria Morgan Remarks PAGE 2 Cincinnati Ballet Dancers PAGE 3 Artistic and Marketing Report PAGE 4 Development Report PAGE 8 Education & Outreach Report PAGE 9 Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy Report PAGE 10 Finance Report PAGE 11 Board of Trustees PAGE 13 Donor Honor Roll PAGE 14 Cincinnati Ballet Company Staff PAGE 16 Performance Photography: Peter Mueller “ As Cincinnati Ballet’s 2009-2010 Season closes, we reflect on yet another triumphant series of beloved ballet traditions, contemporary classics and daring world premieres. In its 46th year, Cincinnati Ballet worked not only to preserve, but also to further the art form of dance. All the while, we increased revenue, cut expenses, planned for future growth and challenged ourselves to aspire. This was our first year to be guided by a new mission statement and strategic plan, which focused on five primary objectives: Knock their socks off, Teach them to dance, Fill every seat, Fund the future, and Implement best management practices. The mission of Cincinnati Ballet is “to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance.” Our mantra is “Everybody Dances.” The essence of those simple statements touches on every aspect of Cincinnati Ballet, from staff to dancers, students, board and community. We set forth a challenge with the strategic plan: setting higher goals and measuring our success to those goals. The good news is that we are, day by day, series by series, dance student by dance student attaining new breadth, diversity, attention and support. We received new and exciting corporate support for our education programs, which touch the lives of young people in our community, Cervilio Amador helping them explore movement, learning to express emotions, joy or frustration with their bodies in ways that build confidence and promote new commonalities. Thanks to these gifts, we are able to offer dance to more students from different socioeconomic backgrounds than ever before, expanding their lives and impacting the community. Our Board of Trustees expanded not only in numbers, but also in regional and ethnic composition. This expansion is important, not just for the financial impact – an essential component to our bottom-line success – but also because, through the engagement Janessa Touchet and establishment of effective committees, the board’s stewardship Kristi Capps has moved Cincinnati Ballet forward. Our board is representative of our community, setting a tremendous example of the talent, leadership and diversity. Cincinnati Ballet has benefited from outstanding community support for all our programs, and I am deeply grateful. I am frequently astonished by the talent of our dancers, musicians, guest artists, faculty, students and professional staff. Their commitment, dedication and passion strengthens and advances the institution, ensuring our continued financial viability and superior artistry. We look ahead to 2010-2011, electrified with a renewed sense of purpose and inspired by our ambitious mission. Join me: expand your spirit, activate your mind and fall head-over-heels in love with ballet. ~ Kathy Selker, Chairman of the Board ~ PAGE 1 “ I jumped, or should I say grand jetéd and pirouetted, for joy to see the end of this economically challenged 2009- 2010 Season. The stories – whether administrative or artistic – were surprising, inspiring, funny, sometimes overwhelming, and difficult but ultimately hopeful. We dedicated the entire season to a man we all know and deeply appreciate, Otto M. Budig, Jr. The magnitude of his support and constancy has been the foundation for steady growth and success at Cincinnati Ballet, especially in this tough economy. As our season concludes, we celebrate and thank Otto for giving us the challenge of living up to his generosity and the opportunity to forge new paths. Cincinnati Ballet accomplished some of our most adventurous artistic aspirations this year. Works like Mozart’s Requiem, which blended the talents of chorus, design and choreographic invention to new heights, and gave us reasons to believe those successes could be repeated. The Sammy Project! reaffirmed choreographer Darrell Moultrie’s unique ability to emphasize the individuality and oh-so-out-there personalities of our dancers in ways that were joyous and thought provoking. We said a poignant goodbye to long time principal ballerina, Kristi Capps. We proved with New Works that Cincinnati supports an impressive array of local artists – musicians and choreographers. We witnessed Company Dancers record ticket sales for our story ballets, Swan Lake - an awe- inspiring collaboration with BalletMet, where 25 swans became the undulation of a single swan wing expanding the entire stage and our hopeful, happily-ever-after Cinderella. We exceeded every financial ticket sale goal for the entire season in every category – single, subscription and group – sparking momentum for the 2010-2011 Season! I am very proud to say we paid down – completely – the long, burdensome line of credit, which has haunted Cincinnati Ballet from the time I arrived 13 years ago. The ambition and drive at Zack Grubbs, Sarah Hairston the staff level has never been more pronounced or determined. Zack Grubbs, Sarah Hairston I am lucky to be surrounded by people who know that a high quality of dance brings vibrancy and hope to our community in unstoppable ways. Thank you for being a part of the Ballet family. Your partner in this performance as “Everybody Dances,” ~ Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director & CEO ~ PAGE 2 Cincinnati Ballet Dancers PRINCIPAL DANCERS CERVILIO OGULCAN KRISTI ANTHONY JANESSA MIGUEL BOROVA CAPPS KRUTZKAMP TOUCHET AMADOR SENIOR SOLOISTS SOLOISTS CORPS DE BALLET SARAH ZACK GEMA DAWN DANIELLE HAIRSTON GRUBBS DIAZ KELLY BAUSINGER JOSHUA JOSHUA COURTNEY KARA SELAHATTIN BODDEN BURNHAM CONNOR GENEVIEVE ERKAN COOPER NEW DANCERS LIANG FU JILL MAIZYALET KELLY COURTNEY MARLOW VELÀZQUEZ YANKLE HELLEBUYCK APPRENTICES TRAINEES STEPHEN JACQUELINE JAMES ABIGAIL CHARLOTTE JACOBSEN DAMICO CUNNINGHAM MARUNA MUNSON DAVID SONJA LAURYN ODENWELDER DAVENPORT WINTERHALDER PAGE 3 Artistic and Marketing Report TICKETS AND SUBSCRIPTION HIGHLIGHTS REVENUE % PER PRODUCTION Cincinnati Ballet’s 2009-2010 Season brought success in every revenue line for Marketing, beating sales goals by 10.6% across the board. • Subscriptions: $400,786.25 % of goal: 103.56% • Single Tickets: $1,023,262.34 % of goal: 111.35% • Group Sales: $220,048.75 % of goal: 121.91% MARKETING INITIATIVES In 2009-2010, we did not wait for audiences to come to Cincinnati Ballet. Instead, we infiltrated the community to bring the power and passion of dance to wherever people live, work, play and relax though surprise dance encounters and social networking. Guerilla marketing tactics brought our dancers into busy restaurants, surprising diners with dance, promoting Swan Lake, Frisch’s Presents the Nutcracker and Cinderella. CBALLET.ORG AND OTHER ELECTRONIC MEDIA Also in 2009-2010, Cincinnati Ballet launched its new website: cballet.org. Its dynamic, flowing design and logical architecture allows us to offer vibrant multimedia content in an easy-to-navigate environment. Cincinnati Ballet became a social media leader in the community as well, with thousands of fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter (follow @CincyBallet and @CBalletAcademy). Social media allowed us to communicate directly with our fans, 24-7, sharing ideas, images and anecdotes. New Works • September 10-20, 2009 The Mickey Jarson Kaplan Performance Studio “The concept was inspired...New Works is a revelatory collaborative showcase. The company dancers…turn the slightest gestures into emotional images with enormous impact. Fascinating dance. Fascinating theater…a sense that something momentous – maybe even magical – is about to unfold.” – Cincinnati Enquirer Queen City Dream [World Premiere] CHOREOGRAPHY: Joy Jovet MUSIC: Jake Speed & The Freddies Script [World Premiere] CHOREOGRAPHY: Luca Veggetti MUSIC BY: Paolo Aralla SONG TITLE: Script for Electromagnetic Tape Company Dancers Retrospect [World Premiere] CHOREOGRAPHY: Missy Lay Zimmer & Andrew Hubbard MUSIC: Over the Rhine Into Night [World Premiere] CHOREOGRAPHY: Devon Carney MUSIC BY: Peter Frampton All Too Wonderful [World Premiere] CHOREOGRAPHY: Heather Britt MUSIC BY: Peter Adams [World Premiere] Actress and dance celebrity Victoria Rowell opened the season in a gala production that included live music from Over the Rhine, Peter Adams and Jake Speed & The Freddies. SINGLE TICKET SALES: $30,885 % of goal: 138.28% GROUP SALES: $4,875 % of goal: 162.5% SUBSCRIPTIONS: $37,893 % of goal: 111% Maizyalet Velazquez, Joshua Bodden Anthony Krutzkamp, Kristi Capps Cincinnati Ballet and BalletMet Dancers Swan Lake • October 23-25, 2009 Aronoff Center for the Arts “BalletMet Columbus and Cincinnati Ballet … have set a new standard. In a joint staging of the beloved classic Swan Lake, the two companies have brought out the best in each other – and this poignant drama… The new Swan Lake…beautifully re-creates the magic that must have enchanted audiences at the drama’s premiere more than 100 years ago.” – The Columbus Dispatch CHOREOGRAPHY: Devon Carney, Gerard Charles & Victoria Morgan after Petipa and Ivanov MUSIC: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky Cincinnati Ballet collaborated with BalletMet Columbus to bring the magnificent full-length ballet Swan Lake to both cities. With choreography after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov by