The Sarasota Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Gala

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

June 2021—On April 18, 2021, a bit of normalcy returned to the local arts and culture scene when The Sarasota Ballet held their annual Gala inside and around the Van Wezel. The guests were socially distanced, of course, but they were there in person—not via Zoom—to enjoy a wonderful meal under the stars thanks to the catering team from Michael’s on East. And they were able to physically go inside the Van Wezel to be the live audience for the Company to perform for—the first live audience they’ve had in more than a year.

About the Gala, Chief Advancement Officer Sara Robinson says, “Being able to gather again as a community and share the experience of live performance, from both the dancer and the audience perspective, was remarkable, especially after a year like we have all just experienced.”

“We were really well disciplined, too. The total speaking time was probably about seven minutes!” jokes Board of Trustees Chair Richard Johnson. “Seriously, though. The weather was a bit dicey, but it held out, so we were able to eat outside and enjoy a beautiful evening alongside the Bay.”

The event was originally planned for the beginning of the calendar year to celebrate the milestone anniversary of the Company. COVID-19 derailed that, but after it became safer to have in-person events again, the Gala was simply moved to April and recast as a chance for ballet lovers to gather again as a community in addition to the fundraiser it’s always been.

The Ballet is a nonprofit, after all, and they don’t cover their operating costs through ticket sales alone, even in a pre-pandemic world. 

Robinson notes that “the long-term commitment of our patrons has given The Sarasota Ballet the opportunity to become one of the nation’s most exciting dance companies.” The generosity of the guests can’t be overstated—a significant amount of money was raised that night to support the Ballet’s artistic, education, and award-winning community engagement programs. 

While the Company has performed online in the past year, and the Conservatory and Studio Company participated in various performances at outdoor stages at the Asolo, there’s just such a different feeling—a “palpable experience,” Johnson clarifies—to seeing top-level performers on a top-level stage. 

The most common word of the night was indeed “celebration.” For the audience members, it was a celebration of experiencing live ballet. For the Company, it was a celebration of sharing their life’s work once again with a live audience. For everyone, the Gala was a celebration of getting through the worst of the pandemic and a celebration of a more promising future for us all as we look with great anticipation toward a rich lineup of in-person arts opportunities come fall. 

One of the things that Johnson recalls most vividly about the Gala happened at its conclusion. He lingered near the exit as many of the guests were leaving, which afforded him the chance to thank them for coming. “What stood out were the smiles,” he explains. “They were happy. They had a great time. I know it sounds mundane, but it felt good to be part of the Ballet and help bring this level of pleasure and happiness to our audience in a time when we all need a bit more of that.”

“This is such an exciting time for The Sarasota Ballet,” adds Robinson. “To celebrate a 30th anniversary is remarkable for any arts organization, but to celebrate it with the great accomplishments and national and international recognition of The Sarasota Ballet is truly exciting. We are truly grateful to our patrons for their vision and commitment to the art form.”

For more information about The Sarasota Ballet, please visit www.sarasotaballet.org or call 941.359.0099.