Based on feedback thus far, our new facility appears to have many fans. All of us who worked toward making it possible feel very gratified that the work has paid off, and the result is a great new Kingsport Ballet. Many KB parents and friends gave their time and energy, and spent a lot of their free time helping us with the many tasks required to renovate the space. And the work has continued with the most recent upgrading of the kitchen. The Steiners generously donated a refrigerator, which we promptly painted silver, along with the microwave! We repainted cabinets, refinished hardware and scrubbed every surface. The result is a comfortable, appealing space for seeking sustenance.
The studio as a wellness place: We are so proud to announce that Jessica Barrett, physical therapist and dancer, is already hard at work offering a menu of potential selections, anything from a personalized workout routine for dancers, to icing a sore muscle, to actual physical therapy modalities. We have painted the walls of our fitness and wellness lounge and are preparing to finish the wood floors this week! The semi-finished state of the lounge is not stopping us from getting started with our program!
We are seeking a treadmill and an elliptical machine. We are aiming to build a sweedish wall for ballet workouts, and provide a very comfortable space for lounging, working out, or learning more about dance, our bodies and how to stay healthy and fit. Operating on the premise that since dancers train earlier and more frequently, taking class 4-5 times per week as early as age 9, they need the tools for prevention, maintenance, and cross-training and muscle care that is often not sought until an injury demands it.
Our goal is to equip our young dancers with the tools to lead healthy lives, and to learn about the demands placed on their bodies at an earlier age, while there is time to create good, healthy habits. It will take about $5500 to completely finish out this space, and as with our studios, we are seeking sponsorships to help make it possible. If you know a doctor, therapist or healthcare facility that likes our plan - prevention-education-wellness - please encourage them to make a donation to this great space. Go to www.kingsportballet.org and click on "support Kingsport Ballet." I am also working on our season brochure, which will feature many ways to support KB. Donors to our renovations will be acknowledged on glass plaques, sand-etched to permanently denote their names and generosity.
The studio as a gallery: The spacious hallways and waiting areas with more than enough wall space will grow into an art gallery that will have rotating exhibit space. We are seeking sponsors to make the art-hanging equipment possible. We are planning to purchase a very sleek, minimalist hanging system that will be easily adaptable to all sizes and shapes of 2 dimensional artwork. Go to www.kingsportballet.org and click on "support Kingsport Ballet."
The studio as an arts center: Our arts partners are hard at work! We currently have four arts studios subleased, with a fifth one promised and awaiting further renovations. Arts Studio E: Eugene Jones, clarinet teacher (he used to be the principal clarinetist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet!), Arts Studio D: Geraldine Fish - very accomplished classical piano instructor, Arts Studio C: Wesley Venable - talented visual artist, Arts Studio B: Bill McSpadden - maybe we'll get our ballet videos sooner.?..? and Arts Studio A: - will be renovated for local arts professional seeking office space downtown. This last and largest arts studio requiring renovations will take the most effort, as there was quite a bit of drywall damage, will need window side-lights re-installed, and all new flooring.
We will call the arts wing the Charlie Houston Arts Wing, in memory of the firstborn son of Steve and Anne Houston. Anne was a partner in the Parents Coalition, which bought the KB studios from the founding director and made it non-profit in 1999. Steve was a generous supporter of Kingsport Ballet, purchasing our theatrical lighting system in 2000 and making various set pieces, including the "steps" we use in almost all our ballets. Their son Charlie died at the age of 16 in a single car crash on October 10th of that year. He was an avid musician and artist. If you know of an arts lover who would support our arts center, please encourage them to support this effort with a donation. Go to www.kingsportballet.org and click on "support Kingsport Ballet."
Ballet studios: All four of our ballet studios have been underwritten by the generous support of the following patrons: Dr. Lenita Thibault, Bonnie and Scott Macdonald, Karen and Mike Todd, Don and Rachel Burch, Dr. Judy Fischer, Roger and Agnese Goin, John and Linda Buckles, Jose and Alma Velasco, Al and Vivian Crymble, IBM and Pfizer, Michael and Bertina Dew. Substantial labor was donated by Fixalotta Renovations - owned and operated by Michael Richards. Fixalotta carried out the KB renovations.
Studio B, which has a door facing Cherokee Street, is facing additional renovations. We were initially told we could not do away with the door from the waiting room or change it to accommodate the floor extending all the way to the door, but during the fire marshall's recent visit we were given an ok to make some changes. We will be extending the sprung floor all the way to the wall, giving us some additional needed elbow space.
Waiting rooms: We are seeking sponsors for the two main waiting rooms. We have received generous in-kind donations of furniture and other equipment from Workspace Interiors and Meadoview Resort and Conference Center.
Again, we are so grateful to all of you who spent a great deal of time and effort helping with all sorts of tasks in order to help finish this great space. Your efforts have paid off and we are so proud of our volunteers!! Thank YOU!!
New projects: We need to get in Nutcracker mode!! I am seeking a COSTUME MISTRESS.. This is a person who will oversee/manage the fittings, alterations and care of the costumes prior to Nutcracker and organize costume workdays and necessary alterations. This person does not necessarily need to be a seamstress. I will be happy to train the volunteer, and since I'm not going anywhere, I am always there to help out. Additionally, you will be taking direction from me as to what will be needed. I am also seeking a PROPERTIES manager. This person would be in charge of all props for Nutcracker. Some, like the fireplace made of styrofoam, will be needing repair prior to production. These tasks can be carried out by the props manager or delegated. I will be happy to train this person.
Help in both of the above areas will help to free me somewhat to focus more on marketing and advertising - an area that needs my attention so that we can meet our goal of increasing our audiences by 30%!!
If interested in either of the above volunteer jobs, or would like to know more about the commitment level, please call me at 423/863-1280.
Thank you all!!
