Eugene Balllet’s mission includes increasing access to the arts, and our goal for the 2026/27 ballet season has been to FILL THE HULT with patrons; get as many children and adults as possible in to experience our live performances. One of our programs that has proven to be of great success is the Access to Dance Sponsorship. This partnership between businesses/owners and Eugene Ballet allows a business to sponsor tickets (vouchers) for patrons of a local non-profit or school so that those who are unable to attend the Ballet on their own means, can have access to the extraordinary performances, put on by our professional ballet company. Last season, thanks to the generous support of our Access to Dance Sponsors, we provided over 2,900 tickets connecting economically disadvantaged community members to the arts. Below is an infographic about our success from this program last season.
As this is our 48th season, our goal is to grow the Access to Dance program and provide 4,800 FREE tickets to the clients of local non-profits and youth services to enjoy our shows. This season productions include: Taming of the Shrew, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird and the world premiere of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Access to Dance Sponsorship
Tickets through the Access to Dance program are discounted to $10/ticket. The Access to Dance Sponsorship can be in any dollar amount; and as the business sponsoring, you can work with Eugene Ballet to direct the ticket vouchers to a non-profit that aligns with your personal or business mission. Examples are: First Place Family Center, Boys and Girls Club, Sponsors Inc., Cornerstone Community Housing, to name a few. For $1,500, your business can sponsor 150 tickets! Below are the benefits provided for the Access to Dance Sponsorship.
Benefits of a $1,500 sponsorship include:
- Ticket vouchers, with business’ logo, will be distributed via local social service agencies to families and children
- Logo placement on Season Support page in Performance Program Books (21,000+ patrons during the 25/26 season.
- Logo and website link under Access to Dance Sponsor at eugeneballet.org
- Sponsor spotlight on one (1) marketing email and/or blog for one show (19,000+ subscribers)
- 4 complimentary tickets for the production of your choice. ($476 value)
Access to Dance Programs:
At the heart of Eugene Ballet’s mission is a deep commitment to making dance accessible and inspiring for everyone. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to be moved by the magic of live performances. Ballet has the power to inspire, heal, and connect us. However, for many in our community, financial or life circumstances challenge our access to these performances, making experiences like attending the ballet sometimes feel out of reach. That’s why we created Access to Dance.
Access to Dance provides complimentary tickets for local families to attend family-friendly ballets. During the 2025/26 Season, Eugene Ballet donated 2,928 tickets to economically disadvantaged community members, allowing them to experience the magic of ballet without having to overcome about financial barriers.
Eugene Ballet Youth provides aspiring young students exceptional training and performing opportunities that not only develop self-confidence and an appreciation for the arts but also provide educational programs and exposure for our local community and beyond. The 60-member troupe gives back to the community through free public performances at nursing and retirement homes, libraries, public and private schools and community events. Because of Eugene Ballet Youth’s exemplary service, they were awarded a prestigious Oregon Arts Commission Award for Community Service.
Eugene Ballet Youth is committed to providing financial support and enriching opportunities for our community’s under-served areas and families in need. Eugene Youth Ballet was established as a non-profit organization in 1999 to raise scholarship monies for students of the Eugene Ballet. Through its longevity and many projects and performances, the organization has become recognized as a viable youth arts program. Some of Eugene Youth Ballet’s outreach projects and performances have included: Lane County Community, Nutcracker Tours, Eugene Celebration, Oregon Bach Festival, Youth Choreography Competition Lane County, Dance Educational Tours, Cottage Theater Productions, Dance For A Reason, Regional Dance America Pacific Festival, Northwest Dance Festival.
In addition to EBY’s outreach performances, the Eugene Ballet Aspirant Dancers also participate in outreach performances for several retirement communities in Eugene.
Nutcracker Short and Suite is a sensory-friendly, condensed version of this cherished story presented by the students of Eugene Ballet Academy’s performing and outreach arm, the Eugene Ballet Youth (EBY). EBY has been sharing this charming interpretation for 30+ years through outreach presentations at retirement facilities, elementary schools, libraries, and with a final performance on a small stage.
In 2025, EBY performed Nutcracker Short and Suite at the Hult Center, sharing the joy with an even wider audience in the Silva Concert Hall with special modifications made to create a sensory-friendly experience. For this special performance, the house lights are dimmed but not dark, and there will be no use of strobe lights or explosives. Recorded music will be used for the show to limit sudden sound fluctuations. The performance also includes narration throughout the performance to help clarify the story, with ASL seats reserved for audience members that benefit from this support.
Eugene Ballet’s education performances create accessible opportunities for young students to experience live dance at the Hult Center, opening doors to the performing arts for those who might otherwise face barriers to seeing a live show. In 2025/26, Eugene Ballet invited teachers and students to a free educational performance of The Large Rock and The Little Yew at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. This educational performance offered an excellent opportunity for students to learn about and get connected to the performing arts. For many students, a school field trip is their first time stepping inside the Hult Center and makes for an especially memorable and inspiring day.
Our studios are more than places to learn dance. They are safe, welcoming spaces where young people discover what they are capable of, build confidence and resilience, form lasting friendships, and develop a love for the arts. For some families, however, the cost of training can mean that opportunity is out of reach. Eugene Ballet’s Scholarship Fund gives students access to high-quality dance training and allows them to learn, grow, and perform. In 2025/26, forty (40) students received financial support to continue their dance training at Eugene Ballet Academy. Our goal for 2026/27 is to double the impact of our scholarship program, raising $100,000 to provide scholarship support to 80 students during the current fiscal year.
