Maine State Ballet Benefit Auction Raised $24,000

Celebrated A Century Of Dance In Portland

The Maine State Ballet honored its past and looked to the future at its first annual benefit auction Saturday, March 8 at the Eastland Park Hotel Ballroom.

The non-profit auction raised over $24,000; proceeds will go to the formation of a college scholarship fund, "Dance for ME." This fund will be set up to benefit high school seniors wanting to attend local colleges and continue dancing for Maine State Ballet. The money will also be used for the addition of another annual ballet production and performance opportunities for young dancers to showcase their many talents. Sincere thanks are extended to all that contributed to the success of this first year event.

The evening featured a silent auction with music by Trio de Camera, followed by a live auction. Local television news personalities and parents of students from Maine State School for the Performing Arts, Bill Green of WCSH and Doug Rafferty of WGME, guided the festivities. Other auction participants included Meteorologist Dave Santoro and Congressman Tom Allen. Dancing to music by the Tony Boffa Band ended the evening.

In addition, the ballroom of 300 guests were treated to a Maine State Ballet Company performance entitled "Dancing through Time," choreographed by Linda MacArthur Miele and highlighting dances from different eras of the past century.

A display covering the history of the dance school was presented in the hotel lobby. The roots of the Maine State Ballet School go back to the early 1900s.

Maine State Ballet's next production, "Hansel & Gretel," will be performed at Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at 1:00 pm. Tickets to the two matinee shows are now available at the Merrill Auditorium box office, by calling PortTix at 842-0800, or online at www.porttix.com or www.mainestateballet.org.

Maine State Ballet, established in 1986, has become the leading professional dance company in the State of Maine. Working together, Maine State Ballet and the Maine State School for the Performing Arts encourages students to become active, intelligent young artists who will emerge as artistic leaders in their communities. Maine State Ballet embraces the highest artistic standards in the challenge to create a home for talented artists from the State of Maine. For more information on the Maine State Ballet, call (207) 856-1663 or visit www.mainestateballet.org.

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