2022 Nutcracker—Sponsorship Opportunities

About WBC

Westchester Ballet Company (WBC) is one of the oldest regional, nonprofit youth ballet companies in the United States. Founded in 1950 in Ossining, New York, by celebrated ballerina and choreographer Iris Merrick, the company is comprised of approximately 100 young dancers from in and around Westchester County who are selected through annual fall open auditions.

The Company’s crown jewel is its Nutcracker, a sumptuous, professional production performed each December before thousands of enthusiastic fans, including school groups, scout troops, seniors, and families—affordably priced so that it is accessible to a broad, general audience that truly reflects our community.

Our mission as a nonprofit

WBC’s mission is to shape lives through the power of dance by educating and inspiring both dancers and audiences of Westchester County and the outer boroughs of New York City.

We envision a community deeply impacted by the discipline, memories, camaraderie, and commitment to excellence fostered through our world-class performances and professional-level ballet training and performance experiences.

We strive to be agents for positive change and inclusivity, by actively engaging with community partners to make ballet more accessible to a greater number of people.

Inclusivity & affordability

Our Nutcracker is more than just a beautiful, professional production. It’s a celebration of community.

For many decades WBC’s Nutcracker has been the only performance of this holiday classic in the region produced on this grand of a scale, marketed broadly to the general public, and focused on inclusivity and affordability.

For many in our audience, and especially for the thousands of school children who attend each year, WBC’s Nutcracker is their first exposure to a live dance performance. Sharing this joy and inspiring others is core to WBC’s mission.

Old tradition. New home.

WBC’s Nutcracker has been a tradition in Westchester County for more than seven decades.

After a two year performance hiatus due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, WBC made a triumphant return to the stage last year in a new home— the celebrated and premier concert hall at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lehman College in the Bronx. This collaboration has brought together two 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are passionate about the vital role the performing arts plays in the community—to not only entertain and uplift, but also to educate and create opportunity and access.

Stronger together

WBC’s move to Lehman Center in the outer borough of the Bronx, after decades at the Westchester County Center, might have been a daunting endeavor if it hadn’t been for the loyal audiences who followed us and the new ones that welcomed us.

Our success in year one would not have been possible without the support of the nonprofits we’ve worked with in the past and the new ones that welcomed us into the neighborhood.

Our first major collaboration at Lehman Center was with Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Under the theme of “Culture & Care” 2,200 employees of this venerated Bronx institution were invited to a free benefit performance of The Nutcracker on Friday, December 17, 2021. It was a night to remember!

Above: Amy Harte, WBC Board President; Dr. Judy Yee, University Chair of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and Dr. Michael Cabana, Physician-in-Chief, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore on the Lehman Center stage on the opening night of WBC’s 2021 Nutcracker, a free benefit performance for employees of the Montefiore Health network.

Affordable. Inclusive. World-class.

WBC’s Nutcracker ticket prices are set at affordable levels in order to ensure accessibility.

At the same time, WBC’s performance quality rivals any professional New York City production of this holiday classic. And where even $15-$55 tickets present a barrier to attendance, WBC offers discounted and no-cost tickets, collaborating with other nonprofits that serve vulnerable groups and individuals to ensure that our audience reflects the true diversity of our community.

WBC dancers and audience members reflect the true diversity of our community.

Engagement in the community throughout the year

WBC is active year-round in the community— performing, educating, and collaborating with other nonprofits. Creating enrichment opportunities and supporting affordable access to the arts is at the core of what we do.

WBC seeks to partner with organizations focused on the health and well-being of children and families.

Pictured at right, clockwise from the top:

Community Day, Ossining, NY Milton School, Rye, New York

Rising Above Boundaries, Ossining, NY

Feel Good Music Series, Peekskill, NY

Bethany Arts Community, Ossining, NY

Rising Above Boundaries, Ossining, NY

Broadly marketed

An

LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Marquee Sponsor

350,000+ impressions through print and social media

Plus:

• Industry Exclusivity

• “Presented by” designation on all marketing and communications with focus on sponsor’s exclusive role in underwriting the Dec. 16 Special Matinee Performance for Schools & Seniors

• Playbill prominence Full-page back cover ad and priority “thank you” highlight on dedicated Playbill sponsorship page (booklet is complimentary to all attendees, 2,225 seats each performance)

• VIP experiences Special reception for your attendees at the venue

• Remarks in the venue 5 opportunities to address the audience directly about your company and its mission

• Signage placement at the venue Company name and/or logo featured on venue’s indoor signage

• “Presented by” designation in News Channel 12 cable advertisement

• Promotion in media releases, exposure on social media, including opportunity to participate in prerecorded and live media coverage

• Further customization and activation available based on the sponsor’s objectives

• Sponsorship activation on site and collateral material distribution at the venue

• 100 complimentary tickets to the Nutcracker performance of your choosing

Sponsorship Price: $50,000

Platinum Sponsor

350,000+ impressions through print and social media

Plus: • Prominence in Playbill*

First priority ad placement of the sponsor’s choice, (eg., inside front cover, inside back cover, or interior full spread) and “thank you” highlight on dedicated Playbill sponsorship page • 50 complimentary tickets to the Nutcracker performances of company’s choice. Tickets can be distributed to the community to support community outreach and/or be used by the sponsor.

• VIP experience Special reception for your attendees at the venue

• Sponsorship activation on site and collateral material distribution at the venue before, during and after performances

• Further customization and activation available based on the sponsor’s objectives

Sponsorship Price: $20,000

Additional opportunities

Gold Sponsor

350,000+ impressions through print and social media

Silver Sponsor

350,000+ impressions through print and

social media

Plus:

• Full interior spread and “thank you” highlight on dedicated sponsorship page

• 25 complimentary tickets to the Nutcracker performances of the sponsor’s choice

Plus: • Full-page ad and “thank you” highlight on dedicated sponsorship page

• 10 complimentary tickets to the Nutcracker performances of the sponsor’s choice

Bronze Sponsor

350,000+ impressions through print and

social media Plus:

• Full-page ad and “thank you” highlight on dedicated sponsorship page

• 5 complimentary tickets to the Nutcracker performances of the sponsor’s choice

Sponsorship Price: $10,000

Sponsorship Price: $5,000

Sponsorship Price: $1,500

We are independent & fueled by volunteers

Why is it important for sponsors to know this?

Westchester Ballet Company is a fully independent nonprofit that operates without paid staff. Thousands of volunteer hours go into our productions and community outreach programs every year. Funding raised through corporate sponsorships goes directly to the communities we serve:

• Young dancers who require financial assistance to pursue professional-level dance training

• School children, seniors, and families in our community who would otherwise be unable to experience a production such as ours without our steadfast commitment to ticket affordability

• Underserved populations for whom we provide no-cost dance enrichment experiences and opportunities

We believe in the power of dance to transform, inspire, and unite people in a common purpose. Nurturing human creativity and artistic expression requires that we engage as a community to create opportunities for all of our children.

Be a part of this!