March Fundraiser To Benefit Maine State Ballet

WESTBROOK, Maine - To be a ballerina is to suffer with joy. And for such dedicated dancers there is no greater privilege than to express themselves before an audience. Every year Maine State Ballet puts on two full-length, storybook ballets. The Nutcracker is a traditional holiday favorite whose dazzling choreography, live music and costumes have earned rave reviews.

Rehearsals are now underway for a May performance of Hansel and Gretel. But artistic director Linda Miele wants to offer dancers and audiences more. Miele herself is a former member of George Balanchine's internationally renowned New York City Ballet. She began teaching dance in southern Maine nearly 30 years ago.

With an enrollment of more than 500 students, her Westbrook-based Maine State School for the Performing Arts is one of the largest dancing schools in New England. Affiliated with Maine State Ballet, MSSPA is where most of the company corps receive their training. And Miele would like to showcase their talents by adding a third production to their yearly schedule.

"These are students who are dancing six days a week most of the year," Miele says. "At the age of 12 or 13 they stopped taking dance as a hobby and began treating it as an art form."

Many of Miele's dancers have gone on to careers in dance. And their reputations are world class. Two of her current students, twin sisters Sara and Leigh Ann Esty, have spent the past three summers at the School of American Ballet which Miele says is the most difficult ballet school to get into in the world.

But there's a whole crop of talented young dancers rising up through the ranks. And Miele wants to give them more exposure to local audiences. "You have to grow ballerinas," Miele says, "and that takes more than just developing good technique. It requires time on stage."

To raise money for a third show and to begin a small endowment for the non-profit company, Maine State Ballet is holding an Hors d'oeuvres reception, dance and auction at the Eastland Hotel on March 8th at 6:30 pm.

Featuring live music by the Tony Boffa Band, the black tie optional event will offer something for just about everyone. Items up for bid include a hot air balloon ride for two; a trip for four to Florida; ski passes; a handcrafted armoire; an overnight getaway on the Scotia Prince, health club memberships, jewelry and a chance to job shadow television meteorologist Dave Santoro.

Tickets for the evening are $45.00 per person and can be ordered from the Maine State Ballet Web site at www.mainestateballet.org or by calling Ann Pollak at 207-829-4139.

# # #