ABT Receives $5 Million Dollar Gift to Support New Works Fund

Sondra Forsyth | Apr 28, 2009 | 0

ABT Swan Lake

Here's an exciting press release from ABT!

American Ballet Theatre announced today the formation of The Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund with the receipt of a $5 million gift from Toni and Martin Sosnoff. The Sosnoff gift, the largest single donation from an individual to American Ballet Theatre, will help support all new works commissioned by ABT, including both World and Company Premieres. The World Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's On the Dnieper, set for June 1, 2009, represents the first ballet to be funded by the Sosnoff New Works Fund, along with the Company Premiere of James Kudelka's Desir.

Read more after the jump!

"I want to thank the Sosnoffs for this extraordinary gift," said Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. "The Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund will enable our art form to grow and evolve through the creation of new choreography, while maintaining ABT's commitment to presenting the classics."

"This generous gift from Toni and Martin Sosnoff allows American Ballet Theatre to continue its mission of bringing the very best in ballet to audiences across the country and around the world," said Rachel S. Moore, ABT Executive Director.

Toni and Martin Sosnoff have been supporters of American Ballet Theatre for nearly 20 years. Martin Sosnoff is the chairman and founder of Atalanta/Sosnoff Capital, a private investment management company. The Sosnoffs are members of the Board of Governors for The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College; the Fisher Center's main theater bears their name. In October 2008, the couple sponsored ABT's engagement at Bard.

"We have been truly fortunate to see ABT throughout the years and this is a very special way for us to recognize the dancers and the creative process, which have brought us so much joy. We hope our gift might inspire others to give back in some way," said Toni Sosnoff. "ABT has incredible artistic balance: respect for the classics, with a genuine commitment to fostering new works. To keep classical dance relevant for audiences and performers, Toni and I felt that our support would be best used to continue to push the art form," said Martin Sosnoff, Chair of the Investment Committee of ABT's Board of Trustees.

Tickets for American Ballet Theatre's 2009 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, priced $19 to $130, are available online, at the Met box office or by calling 212-362-6000.    

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