Maine State Ballet's Fundraising Event to Feature Silent Auction, Food, Music and Dancing

The Maine State Ballet will host its second annual fund-raising event, entitled "An Evening in Paris", to be held at the Eastland Park Hotel Ballroom on Saturday, March 20, at 5:00 pm. The event will feature a silent auction, a live auction, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and dancing to the music of the Tony Boffa Band. Members of the Maine State Ballet Company will perform a brief rendition of Can-Can Parisienne.

WCSH's Bill Green and WGME's Doug Rafferty will co-host the event.

Tickets to the black-tie optional event cost $55 per person, and can be purchased by visiting the Maine State Ballet's Web site at www.mainestateballet.org, or by contacting Maine State Ballet at (207) 856-1662.

Proceeds raised by the auction will be applied to a third annual ballet production by the Maine State Ballet and a college scholarship program with the University of Southern Maine (USM). Through the establishment of the Dance for ME scholarship fund, Maine State Ballet is working with USM to help promote the arts and education here in Maine. Scholarship funds will help offset tuition costs for students remaining in Maine for their college education while continuing to dance for Maine State Ballet.
Maine State Ballet, established in 1986, has fast 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.

In addition to its renown production of The Nutcracker, Maine State Ballet also has presented seven full-length ballets: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella, Coppélia, Don Quixote, Alice in Wonderland, Hansel & Gretel, and Sleeping Beauty. The Ballet has also produced one-act productions such as Can-Can Parisienne, and Peter and the Wolf. Maine State Ballet Artistic Director Linda MacArthur Miele also has choreographed several contemporary pieces in the Balanchine style. Ms. Miele, a former student of George Balanchine and a member of the New York City Ballet, continues to develop Maine State Ballet's repertoire to include new full length productions and smaller pieces that showcase the company's growing number of talented dancers.
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