Community Partners

Stimulating arts experiences have the capacity to expand the imagination, spark the wondrous process of learning, and allow us to be fascinated and empowered by our own potential. Eastern Connecticut Ballet has a precious gift to offer the community and we truly appreciate the importance of sharing the beauty of ballet with children and families throughout the region. Over the years we have been passionately dedicated to these ideals, committing serious resources to community programming. Our work has been encouraged and supported on many levels by the strong partnerships we have forged with CT social service agencies, schools, businesses and foundations. We would like to share with you the scope of the programs we have been able to put into place with the assistance of grants, sponsorships and legions of invaluable volunteers.

Every year 2,800 school children attend two free performances of The Nutcracker at the Garde Arts Center. To date over 37,000 children have participated. Teachers utilize an education packet prepared by ECB to ready the children for the experience. Sponsors have included The Chester W. Kitchings Foundation, The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, The Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation, Dominion, The Day and 24 regional businesses.

ECB faculty members Susan McGuire and Marylu Clark, accompanied by ECB dancers, visit fourteen elementary schools with assemblies designed to ready children for the trip to the Garde. They learn about nautical and ballet history while dancing scenes from the show. The assemblies are sponsored by The Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut. Talented children are often selected from these schools for ECB dance scholarships financed by contributions to our Annual Fund.

Over the years ECB has provided over 1,200 complimentary tickets to Connecticut Social Service Agencies to be distributed to area families. The Free Ticket Initiative sponsors have included The Chester W. Kitchings Foundation, The Dime Bank Foundation, Citizens Bank, The Lee Company and The Reardon Agency. ECB offers special discounted Nutcracker tickets to military families, in appreciation of their service to our country.

The Sarah Morse Scholarship Fund was established by the Clayton Morse family to assist talented ECB dancers with the funding of their education. This scholarship is administered by The Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut and can be added to with designated contributions.

Annual Fund contributions have made it possible for ECB to award between $40,000-$50,000 in scholarships annually to company members and deserving dancers.

Our long-standing association with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is one to be treasured. The collaboration completes a very special circle: Connecticut’s esteemed pre-professional training company, performing The Nutcracker at the region’s beautifully restored theatre with our very own symphony orchestra.

ECB dancers travel throughout the region performing for charity benefits, school assemblies and at children’s libraries and arts festivals. They also make appearances at holiday festivals such as the New London Celebration of Lights and Song, Town Parades, The Mystic Aquarium and the US Naval Submarine Base.

When ECB performs at the Garde Arts Center in New London, thousands of patrons enjoy local restaurants, shops, galleries, and accommodations, supporting the economic vitality of the city.

Finally, Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s Board of Directors and Ballet Guild contribute extraordinary efforts on our behalf donating thousands of hours of time and talent to facilitate programs.

Whether support for our outreach programming comes from within ECB or the community at large, the number of individuals, organizations and businesses engaged in our work is a testimony to the pride the people of Southeastern Connecticut feel in its rich artistic heritage. We will continue our efforts with humility and the commitment to share our blessings through the beauty of an art form that communicates like no other.

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Photos courtesy of Carol Drong