Ballet Palm Beach To Launch Outreach Program Thanks To Pnc Arts Alive Grant

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Feb. 9, 2021 - PRLog -- Colleen Smith, artistic and executive director of Ballet Palm Beach, the professional ballet company of Palm Beach County, today announced plans to launch Ballet by the Book, an outreach program that adapts children's literature into free, live performances in local libraries, theaters and Title 1 schools. Ballet by the Book is made possible through a $15,000 grant from the PNC Foundation through PNC Arts Alive.

Ballet by the Book's goal is to impact young lives from underserved communities through exposure to the performing arts, while simultaneously promoting literacy. Ballet Palm Beach anticipates offering the live performances in early fall 2021.

"With the unanticipated impact of the pandemic on live performances, the support we give to the arts through PNC Arts Alive is more important than ever," said Cressman Bronson, PNC regional president for South Florida. "Having new ways to bring stories to life through short ballets at Palm Beach libraries and schools will allow children to learn about and enjoy cultural entertainment this year."

During the program, Ballet Palm Beach will present an original ballet, Peter Pan & Tinker Bell, which delves into the imaginative world of J.M. Barrie and follows the adventures of "The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" and his feisty fairy friend before they met the Darling children in London.

"Ballet Palm Beach is grateful for the support from PNC," said Smith. "For a strong, vibrant community, we must keep the arts alive!"

About PNC Arts Alive

PNC Arts Alive is a multi-year initiative of PNC and the PNC Foundation dedicated to supporting visual and performing arts groups with the goal of increasing arts access and engagement in new and innovative ways. The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. For more information, visit www.pncartsalive.com (about:blank).

About Ballet Palm Beach

Ballet Palm Beach, the professional ballet company of the Palm Beaches, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ballet company dedicated to preserving the art of classical ballet, cultivating new visions in choreography, impacting the next generation through the discipline of dance, and enriching the community through this universal art form. Each year BPB produces main stage ballets as well as outreach shows, both locally and abroad. For more information about the professional company or its school, Ballet Palm Beach Academy, or to support BPB's outreach efforts call 561.630.8235 or visit www.balletpalmbeach.org (about:blank).