Dear Parents and Supporters of The Nutcracker Ballet Dancers,

Congratulations on your child’s selection as a dancer in the Albany Berkshire Ballet’s (ABB) Twenty Fifth Anniversary performance of The Nutcracker! We are all looking forward to seeing this magical holiday show -- from the littlest reindeer to the mighty mice and brave soldiers.

All professional ballet companies continue to struggle to secure funding. In Albany, the Friends of the Albany Berkshire Ballet (FABB) was established to help raise money so that the ABB can keep on dancing. This letter will explain who we are, why there is a continued need to fund raise for the ABB and, most importantly, solicit your support and commitment to help the ABB.

Who are the Friends of the Albany Berkshire Ballet and what is their mission?

The ABB is a nonprofit arts organization, comprised of professional dancers under the artistic direction of Madeline Cantarella Culpo; it is the official ballet company of the City of Albany and the Palace Theatre is its Albany home. In addition to its three Albany performances, the ABB has danced The Nutcracker in over 20 other sites -- including Burlington and Putney (Vermont); Pittsfield, Sheffield, Springfield and Weston (Massachusetts); and Lebanon (New Hampshire).

To perform, the ABB relies primarily on ticket sales and donations and this is where FABB and you come in. The nonprofit FABB is comprised of volunteers and its sole mission is to support the ABB -- primarily through various fund raising activities.

The following fund raising activities are planned to support the 1998 performances of The Nutcracker:

Entertainment and Entertainment Values Books: Entertainment Books sell for $40.00 each and FABB receives $8.00 for each book sold. In addition, we offer the smaller Entertainment Values Book, which sells for $20.00; based on the volume sold, FABB would receive $8.00 for each of these as well.

Cookies: Each dancer will be asked to sell one box of cookies, containing 40 cookie packages costing $1.00 each. Again based on volume, this fund raiser could generate 50 cents for the ABB for every package sold.

FABB is always looking for volunteer help and suggestions. Please read the attached and consider joining us, at whatever level you can.

Photographs: As the ABB owns The Nutcracker costumes and needs to take the costumes on the road with it, the only opportunity we have to capture your dancer in The Nutcracker costume is on the day which FABB has negotiated with the costume mistress. This year, pictures will be taken by Kathy Clapper -- owner of "The Portrait Place" -- on Sunday, October 18, 1998. Your dancer should have received an order form on the day of auditions; please let Fern know if you didn’t receive it and/or it has been misplaced and we’ll be sure that you get a new form. Orders should be returned no later than October 10, 1998.

FABB receives $5.00 for each package ordered, which is donated to the ABB.

Flowers: FABB also ensures that you have the opportunity and convenience of pre-ordering flowers to give to your dancer on the day of performance. Flower order forms should be available in early November.

Boutique: FABB volunteers undertake to have a boutique year-round -- but especially during The Nutcracker season. With your help, the boutique will be open weekdays and Saturdays at the Albany dance studio and during performances of The Nutcracker.

 Thank you for all your support. Please feel free to talk with any of us and/or leave a message and we’ll get back to you should you have any questions.

We’re looking forward to seeing you and, of course, your favorite dancer in the 1998 version of  The Nutcracker.

Sincerely,

 FABB Home