Bartlesville Radio: The area’s best source for news, weather and sports!

Thanks to a $4,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation, the Bartlesville Civic Ballet will receive support for its upcoming ballet, “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Bartlesville Civic Ballet will offer a tour and demonstration to all second-grade students attending Bartlesville Public Schools, thanks to a contribution from the Arvest Foundation. Also included in the behind-the-scenes tour will be students from local private and home schools, as well as individuals from Paths to Independence and AbilityWorks.

This program began more than 15 years ago to give students an opportunity to see local talent from dancers of all ages and to see what it takes to put on a performance.  For some, this will be the first time they have ever been to a ballet or attended an event at The Center, where two performances of "The Sleeping Beauty" will take place on April 18 and 19.

The funds from the Arvest Foundation will also help cover the costs of bringing one of the Boston Ballet Company's professional dancers to perform the Blue Bird variation in The Sleeping Beauty.

Arvest Bank Local President David Nickel and Marketing Manager Stevie Williams presented the check to Kathy Zervas, the development chairperson of the Bartlesville Civic Ballet board of directors.

“On behalf of the Arvest Foundation, it is a privilege to present this check to the Bartlesville Civic Ballet to support its rich history of high standards and quality ballet performances produced year after year,” Nickel said.

The mission of Bartlesville Civic Ballet, Inc. is to promote the appreciation of ballet and other dance forms through education, community outreach and performances for Bartlesville and surrounding communities.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Arvest Foundation for giving us the opportunity to tour the youngsters backstage at The Center and perform excerpts from ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ that will take place that weekend,” Zervas said. “This early exposure to ballet and dancers is invaluable for developing their appreciation of the arts and perhaps for participating in them in the future.

“In addition, this grant is in keeping with our mission to provide as professional a production as we can to our ballet audience by funding one of our guest artists from the Boston Ballet."