Dear JSB Patron,
Remember the pivots we all had to make when the pandemic shut down community events? At James Sewell Ballet (JSB) we continued to create; we remained connected with our dancers, creative and community partners; and we waited anxiously for the return of in-person audiences. Beyond this metaphor for being nimble in unexpected times, dancers have always been skilled at pivoting flexible bodies for creative effect. We even had to do it in a new way when our primary performance home, The Cowles Center, shuttered its doors and our attention shifted to other dance-friendly venues. Today, we ask you to consider a financial gift to assure that our professional troupe can dance, inspire, and thrive as we move forward.
Recently, enthusiastic audiences at St. Catherine University’s O’Shaughnessy saw new works by guest choreographers Shohei Iwahama (former JSB dancer and current member of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo) and Michael Walters, who returned for another commissioned piece. James provided a new sextet that blended classical and contemporary ballet within Bach's Concerto for Violin & Oboe; and, there was a remount of Doo-Be-Doo, a technically challenging piece that rounded out a concert to satisfy both dance and music lovers.
The mentorships that are happening behind the scenes of a show like this are so important: JSB is actively developing the next generation of dancers, choreographers, and audiences. James recognized Michael Walter’s incredible talent and has encouraged his vision as a choreographer with four commissions to-date. Shohei Iwahama and many other JSB alum and dance collaborators have had new opportunities to showcase their work. All this mentorship is part of a bigger JSB curation model that is bringing the work of talented and diverse artistic voices to the concert stage.
We hope you will join us this summer as we collaborate with the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus to present two unforgettable nights of music and dance. We love taking the artistic risks that are at the heart of creative work. However, we must responsibly take risks with an ability to fund the dancers, choreographers, musicians, students in masterclasses, and our administrative staff of two – all of whom play critical roles in our success. As you have probably heard, some traditional arts funders are walking away from the arts, making you an even more important partner and resource.
One of the things we have learned from our collective experiences is that banding together is the way to get through challenging times and to build a more resilient and vibrant community. Please consider a generous gift in support of JSB so we can meet our budgetary goals this year and continue investing in the future of Twin Cities dance and far beyond.
Sincerely,
James, Eve, and all of us at JSB
