News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Logan McSwain, communications manager, 704.372.0101 x2765, lmcswain@ncdance.org
Rendering: Attached – Courtesy of Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates
Charlotte, N.C. – North Carolina Dance Theatre (NC Dance Theatre) received a $100,000 grant from the US Airways Community Foundation. The grant will go towards NC Dance Theatre’s capital campaign, helping to fund the new Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance located at 701 North Tryon Street in Charlotte. NC Dance Theatre broke ground on the 34,000 square foot Center for Dance on April 22, 2009.
“US Airways is excited to join North Carolina Dance Theatre in building a rich cultural community in Charlotte,” said Julie Coleman, vice president of the US Airways Community Foundation. “With this grant of $100,000 to the capital project, we look forward to continuing our engagement with North Carolina Dance Theatre as we witness a new beginning for the organization.”
The US Airways Community Foundation grants to nonprofit organizations that are located in and provide services to the cities of Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Organizations applying for US Airways Community Foundation grants must improve the quality and availability of charitable health care, artistic and cultural organizations, education and community services for multi-year capital and building campaigns.
“North Carolina Dance Theatre is incredibly grateful for this gift from US Airways. This grant makes it possible for us to initiate the beginning stages of including a black box theater in the Center for Dance,” said Douglas Singleton, executive director. “The space for a black box theater was included in the building plans, but we didn’t have the budget to complete it in this initial phase of construction. The US Airways grant lays the groundwork for the black box theater, and hopefully through additional fundraising, the black box theater will be completed ahead of schedule.”
Capital Campaign
In 2003 NC Dance Theatre initiated a capital fundraising campaign, led by Hugh L. McColl Jr., to build its own facility. The initial phase of the capital campaign raised $4.5 million. An additional $1.8 million endowment was established to sustain NC Dance Theatre during its transition to and operation of a new facility. “The new facility will complete the commitment made to Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride when we enticed them to come to Charlotte. It has been a long trip and we would not be here without the individual and corporate support we received along the way,” said Hugh L. McColl, Jr., chairman of NC Dance Theatre’s capital campaign. “Those that participated feel we are investing in the very best of Charlotte’s performing arts groups. North Carolina Dance Theatre is first class and merits our support.”
NC Dance Theatre became a partner in the Campaign for Cultural Facilities in 2005. This initiative, convened by the Arts & Science Council, provides in part, additional capital funds for NC Dance Theatre’s new facility.
In 2008 NC Dance Theatre applied for and received a grant from Knight Foundation for $1.5 million. “Dance Theatre’s new facility will not only strengthen Charlotte’s cultural mall, but also inject more creativity into the city and help transform it into a major cultural destination,” said Susan Patterson, Charlotte program director for Knight Foundation.
Center for Dance Details
“Dance Theatre has explored building a new facility for several years. Due to many reasons, including construction costs and land acquisition, we have not been able to build before now,” said Loy McKeithen, past NC Dance Theatre board chair and building committee chair. “Although the economic climate is challenging, current construction costs make it possible for us to build a new facility that accommodates Dance Theatre’s growth. This, coupled with the gifts we received during the years of the capital campaign, including those from Knight Foundation, Arts & Science Council, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, US Airways Community Foundation, and generous supporters and board members, has allowed everything to fall into place now.”
NC Dance Theatre is working with the architectural firm Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates and general contractor Rodgers Builders. Trade Street Partners is providing support as development manager, and McGuireWoods LLP is providing legal representation.
Plans for the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance include six dance studios, with three overlooking North Tryon Street. “The studios overlooking North Tryon Street will showcase the artistry of our dancers,” said Singleton. “The space Dance Theatre is currently leasing only has three studios. Six studios will allow the School of Dance to hold additional dance classes providing healthy, artistic and fun activities for our community.”
Plans for the Center for Dance also include a costume shop, administrative offices and meeting spaces, as well as locker rooms for students, professional dancers and faculty.
NC Dance Theatre expects to move into the Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance in spring 2010, with a grand opening scheduled for fall 2010.
About North Carolina Dance Theatre
Since its founding in 1970, NC Dance Theatre has become one of the premier mid-sized dance companies in the nation. President and Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Associate Artistic Director Patricia McBride joined the Company in 1996, and under their leadership NC Dance Theatre has built a diverse and exciting repertoire, toured extensively across the United States, and attracted international dancers and choreographers. The Company has an annual budget exceeding $4 million and employs 24 professional dancers.
The New York Times called NC Dance Theatre “unstinting in range and thunder…a pleasure to behold,” and former acclaimed New York Post dance critic Clive Barnes called Dance Theatre “...one of the liveliest and most brilliant troupes in North America.”
NC Dance Theatre School of Dance opened its doors in 1993 and has an annual enrollment of over 600 students. NC Dance Theatre’s Education and Outreach Program serves approximately 50,000 students annually.
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North Carolina Dance Theatre is supported, in part, with operating support by the Arts & Science Council. NC Dance Theatre is also supported by individuals, corporations, local and national foundations, the North Carolina Arts Council, ArtsTeach, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more, visit Ncdance.org.
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