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Ballet Austin Guild
Volunteers for Ballet Austin. Ambassadors of Dance.
Ballet Austin Guild is an all-volunteer department of Ballet Austin with a mission to support and promote Ballet Austin in its commitment to excellence in dance through fundraising, community, and education. The Guild has supported Ballet Austin since 1975 across a number of key initiatives through its membership of volunteers and enthusiastic ambassadors of dance.Ballet Austin Guild is the only avenue through which a community member can not only enjoy the many opportunities for involvement with Ballet Austin – Company Productions, The Academy, community dance & fitness classes, and educational programs – but also help create them. Ballet Austin Guild volunteers enjoy this deeper level of connection and involvement with Ballet Austin, making the dream of dance a reality for the wider Austin community.
About Membership
Ballet Austin Guild has over 100 members serving across five standing committees that work for the direct benefit of dance in the Austin community. Members cultivate lifelong friendships and have the opportunity to form a personal relationship with Ballet Austin Company Dancers through support events. Ballet Austin Guild offers its members many opportunities to make the magic of dance a reality.
Already a Member?
Are you interested in joining?
Membership Benefits
As a member, you will enjoy many attractive benefits in appreciation of your support, including:
- 20% discount on single tickets
- Opportunity to meet the dancers and other patrons
- Special conversation style programs with Ballet Austin Company members
- Invitation to Ballet Austin’s Season Preview Party
- Two complimentary tickets to the Ballet Austin II / Butler Fellows Spring Performance
- Invitations and advance notice for Ballet Austin special events
- Subscription to Ballet Austin Guild’s newsletter, En Pointe
- Age 35 and under active members offered discounted membership dues
- Special new member orientation meetings and conversation-style programs with Guild officers and committee chairs
Our Pillars of Service
Fundraising
Ballet Austin Guild is the largest non-government donor to Ballet Austin each season. Our fundraising efforts contribute a significant gift Ballet Austin’s.
Each season our Gift Barre pop-up shop generates gross sales of more than $150,000, contributing the majority of our fundraising efforts. Our Gift Barre, organized and produced by our Merchandising Committee, is featured during every performance of Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, as well other Ballet Austin productions.
Our fundraising efforts are also supported by our annual spring tea in celebration of Ballet Austin’s Mother’s Day weekend production. Not only do our fundraising efforts generate our financial contribution to Ballet Austin, they are also important components of our community outreach.
Education
Ballet Austin Guild supports Ballet Austin’s education programs in two ways: through The Nutcracker Docent Program and The Nutcracker School Shows.
For our educational efforts, we work closely with Ballet Austin Education Director, Pei-San Brown. The Docent Program is an opportunity for Ballet Austin Guild members to share the magic of dance with Austin area school children prior to their attendance at The Nutcracker School Shows.
During School Shows we help to safely usher school children into the Long Center to see The Nutcracker live performance.
Additionally, Ballet Austin Guild serves to educate our membership about the history of ballet and Ballet Austin’s unique contribution to dance during each of our General Meetings and specially organized member-only events.
Community
Through membership, Ballet Austin Guild provides a network of supportive ambassadors for the work and artistic contributions of Ballet Austin. We consider each of our members important “Ambassadors of Dance” in the greater Austin community.
Additionally, we view the development of community as the primary benefit and contribution of Ballet Austin Guild. The relationships formed by Ballet Austin Guild members with each other and across the Ballet Austin family are often strong, life-long friendships. The relationships are a core pillar of the success of Ballet Austin Guild, and every member offers a unique and valued contribution to the foundation of our community.
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Our Mission
Ballet Austin Guild supports and promotes Ballet Austin in its commitment to excellence in dance through fundraising, community, and education.
Core Values
We volunteer … to support Ballet Austin and reflect its classically innovative spirit.
We volunteer … for the cultural enrichment and education of our community.
We volunteer … to foster meaningful relationships within the Ballet Austin family.
We volunteer … with passion and grace.
We volunteer … to make a vital contribution to Ballet Austin.
We are ambassadors of dance.
Ways to Make a Difference
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Become a Member
Cultivate lifelong friendships, interact with the dancers, and enjoy special events supporting dance in the community.
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Volunteer with Education
Support schools throughout central Texas and be a part of a student’s first experience with dance and The Nutcracker.
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2024/25 Season Executive Board
Thea Whalen, President
President-Elect, Brianna McKinney
Betty Oltorf, Secretary
Teresa Barnett, Treasurer
Orlando Canova, VP of Support
Ann Downing, VP of Communications
Amber Myers, VP of Membership
Suzanne Tomlin, VP of Merchandising
Mary Ann Alberry, VP of Member Events
Lori Keller, Parliamentarian
Contact
General Inquiries: info@balletaustinguild.org
Membership: membership@balletaustinguild.org
Media Inquiries: pr@balletaustinguild.org
Sponsorship Inquiries: fundraising@balletaustinguild.org
Docent Volunteer Inquiries: docent@balletaustinguild.org
School Show Volunteer Inquiries: schoolshows@balletaustinguild.org
Gift Barre Inquiries: giftbarre@balletaustinguild.org