Kansas City Ballet Announces Record-Breaking 2015-16 Season

Claire Brand, President of the Board of Directors for Kansas City Ballet, today announced the contract extensions for the Kansas City Ballet leadership at the conclusion of a record-breaking and critically acclaimed 2015-2016 season marked by the highest attendance and ticket revenue in its 58-year history. Both executives have agreed to multi-year contract renewals.

The 2015-2016 season achieved the best box office revenue ever. Kansas City Ballet also achieved another milestone in 81% capacity sold throughout the season. 17 performances of the 24 performance run of The Nutcracker were sold out, and 7 of the 9 performances of Swan Lake sold out. Every performance of New Moves in the Frost Studio at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity were sold out.

Other significant achievements include:

· KC Ballet reached more than 90,000 people throughout 2015-2016 through outreach, dance education and training, and professional repertory, holiday and school performances, plus many more through KC Ballet's Web site and social media presence.

· Kansas City Ballet has grown to an all-time high with:

o 29 dancers, 6 KCB II dancers and 9 trainees, all of whom together comprise the performing ensemble of Kansas City Ballet

o 64 full-time and part-time staff

o 450 volunteers who invest 12,500 hours annually

· The Three Musketeers launched the season with rave reviews:

· The All-New World Premiere of The Nutcracker opened and became an immediate hit. With over 95% sold to capacity and $2.56M in sales, The Nutcracker smashed records, generating $700,000 in ticket sales more than the previous year and received rave reviews.

· 34,600 people of all ages attended The Nutcracker marking it as the highest attendance in its Kansas City Ballet history.

· Kansas City Ballet engaged designers with international credentials to create this new The Nutcracker.

· New Moves at the Bolender Center with six WORLD PREMIERES hit an all-time high in sales at over $28,000.

· Swan Lake delivered with 96% sold to capacity for 9 performances and breaking sales records of $674,000. Critical reviews were equally glowing.

· Rite of Spring, the spring mixed repertory, exceeded goal by 10% and featured a WORLD PREMIERE and three Company PREMIERES.

· 19,500 people were reached through Kansas City Ballet Outreach/Education programs and events.

Brand stated, "The Board voted unanimously to renew their contracts following this extremely successful season. They are a great team who have accomplished so very much in just the three short years since Devon assumed the Artistic Leadership. We want to ensure they have the full support of the Board in moving forward to complete even more in the future."

Bentley stated, "This season's success is truly not just about Kansas City Ballet but also about the community which has clearly demonstrated a commitment to this art form, These results speak to the vitality of our audiences and the strong and growing interest in ballet and our Company."

"I could not be more thrilled with this season," Carney stated. "I am so proud of what our Company has achieved. Our dancers were challenged in ways they could not have imagined and they exceeded all my expectations. This year's repertoire and performance quality were at an all-time high. And more people than ever are experiencing ballet and seem pleased with the results. But just wait. We're only getting started."

Single tickets for all performances in the 2016-17 season will go on sale Mon., Aug. 15. The Nutcracker tickets will go on sale Mon., Aug. 29. Purchase tickets online at www.kcballet.org.

Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 29-member professional ballet company under the leadership of Artistic Director Devon Carney and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company's mission is to establish Kansas City Ballet as an indispensable asset in its community through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training and quality community education programs for all ages.

Kansas City Ballet is home to Kansas City Ballet School with an enrollment of 1800+ children and adults offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those simply seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Through our professional company, our Second Company (comprised of KCB II and Trainees) and our many community educational and outreach programs, such as Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the values inherent in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance.

Our home, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, in conjunction with our Resident Company status at the world-class Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, truly has positioned Kansas City as a destination for dance.

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