The International Ballet Theatre Selects PACE as Beneficiary of Nutcracker Sales
Ballet Executive Director Supports PACE in Bellevue City Council Meeting
Contact:
Cheryl Engstrom, for PACE, 425.487.0682, 
BELLEVUE, WA. (Nov 13, 2006) – The Act One Guild, the volunteer fund-raising arm of The Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), and the International Ballet Theatre (IBT) of Kirkland, Wash., announce today that PACE will receive 100% of proceeds from the theatre's December 16th matinee performance of The Nutcracker. The 400-seat theatre expects to sell out the performance, which will generate more than $40,000 for PACE.
Holly Kerr, executive director for IBT, testified before the Bellevue City Council at a recent meeting to express the theatre's support for PACE. "With seating capacity five times greater than what currently exists on the Eastside, we look forward to employing the amenities of a top-ranked theatre: superior acoustics, excellent seating, efficient backstage spaces, and state-of-the-art technical controls," she said. "Having PACE as a future venue for IBT will offer us many advantages. It will represent a significant increase in potential revenue for our growing ballet company."
Her testimony was to urge the City Council to support the "cultural growth of our community by supporting PACE."
"For the Eastside to continue to meet the cultural interests and demands of a growing population we must have access to a venue like PACE," she testified. "For young arts groups like IBT to continue to grow we must have a place to grow to, a validation of the commitment we are making to bring unique cultural offerings of the highest standards to Bellevue and the Greater Eastside."
"The support of IBT is critical to PACE," says Richard Collins, executive director for PACE. "The goal is PACE remains constant in terms of other performing arts organizations in the community – to provide a venue for them to expand, grow and build new audiences. We are thrilled by Holly's testimony and the IBT's tangible support for PACE through their partnership with The Act One Guild."
Tickets for the performance are on sale through Act One Guild members and you can reserve yours by contacting Suzanne Hutchinson, Director of Guilds at 425.462.4295 or by email 
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About The International Ballet Theatre: Artistic director, Vera Altunina, former dancer with the Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg, and world-renowned choreographer, founded the International Ballet Theatre (IBT) in 2001. It currently resides in Kirkland. IBT is committed to the preservation of classical ballet repertoire by presenting productions that reflect traditional as well as original choreography. It offers a window to classical, cultural performing arts on the Eastside. Our performances are choreographed for audiences of all ages, so that the very young and those with rich life experiences may enjoy ballet and appreciate this classical art form.
About Performing Arts Center Eastside:
Performing Arts Center Eastside is a 2,000-seat premier regional center for the performing arts. Its mission is to enrich cultural life with a wide diversity of live entertainment, arts, and education. PACE will stimulate the arts region-wide; attract new audiences; heighten arts awareness and education; provide a performance home for select area arts organizations; and serve as a cultural center for the Eastside.
PACE plans to open in 2009 and it will be located in downtown Bellevue on the corner of NE 10th Street and 106th Avenue NE. The $100 Million Capital and Endowment Campaign has raised $16 million with 100% board participation and the gift of land valued at $8 million.