The Best Things in Life may well be free but unless you charge for them they may not be appreciated

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Throughout lockdown, I sponsored our company as well as donating to other companies, schools and theatres because ballet faced a threat to its existence.   The prolonged closure of the theatres and the need for social distancing were potentially more damaging than two world wars and the Russian Revolution.  Now that the public is learning to cope with the pandemic continued funding from me may not only be unnecessary but counter-productive. That is because humans tend to regard things that are free as lacking in value,  I think that explains the decline in attendance at our last few events

Events up to 31 Dec such as Sophie Richardson's class on 30 Oct 2021 and Ballet Cymru's workshop will remain free as I have promised.  Over the Christmas vacation, when I should have some free time, I shall incorporate a company to manage Powerhouse Ballet, the Stage Door and Terpsichore.  That new company will charge for its services from the beginning of the New Year.

Services will be offered on a subscription or flat-fee basis.   A subscription, which will initially be about £25 per year, will entitle the subscriber to reduced admission fees to class and workshops, the right to audition for shows, a free newsletter, admission to Martha's Room for live meetings with dancers and possibly other benefits such as discounted merchandise and theatre tickets.   By way of example, if we charge subscribers £7.50 for a 90-minute class with a pianist, we shall ask non-subscribers to pay £15. 

I shall probably remain a sponsor of the company for a time.   But I shall use my connections to solicit, grants, donations and sponsorship from law firms and other businesses for the company.  The aim is for Powerhouse Ballet to become self-sufficient

Powerhouse Ballet will flourish.  We already have three cracking events before Christmas which are absolutely free:
  • 30 Oct 2021 a company class with Sophie Richardson of the London Russian Ballet School accompanied by Northern Ballet's Alena Panasenka;
  • 3 Nov 2021 a workshop with Ballet Cymru where we shall learn some of the choreography in their new Giselle, and
  • 27 Nov 2021  the second part of Jane Tucker's Waltz of the Flowers workshop.
Just after Christmas Fiona Noonan will help us to burn up all the calories we will have piled on over the holidays.  Annemarie Donoghue will take out January class and Lizzie Gunson will put us through our paces in February.   Later in the year, Mark Hindle will teach us Snowflakes somewhere in the Northwest and Jane Tucker will give us the Wilis.  I have identified a location for our Summer School in Wales.  I look forward to seeing you at these events.

Anybody who wants to discuss these plans is welcome to contact me through my contact form.

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