LEPAA and Ballet Lubbock Announce Partnership
(Lubbock-TX) On Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 at 7 p.m. Ballet Lubbock and the Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association (LEPAA) will announce their partnership on the proposed construction of The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences and Ballet Lubbock Dance Center. The announcement will take place at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) Firehouse Theatre. As part of the partnership, Ballet Lubbock has committed to an $8.6 million campaign to fund the new Ballet Lubbock Dance Center, of which nearly half has been committed.
“The location, in the heart of the downtown cultural arts district, builds on our great community partnerships creating a synergy and presence that is responsive and powerful. Just imagine if everyone in our community had the opportunity for creative expression. We see our future with Buddy Holly Hall as a vehicle to enhance programs, performances, and most importantly, our current outreach activities for our community,” said Ballet Lubbock Artistic Director Yvonne Racz Key.
Key amenities of The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences include a 2,200-seat main performance hall, 425-seat small theater and a 6,000 square-foot multi-purpose room. Ballet Lubbock will be an important resident in the campus, operating the 22,000 square-foot dance center located in the North East wing. The dance center will contain the entire operation of Ballet Lubbock, including six dance studios, parent and community space, production areas and administrative offices.
LEPAA and Ballet Lubbock have worked on these designs for the past several months with both local and internationally distinguished companies such as Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects, Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, MWM Architects, Jaffe Holden Acoustics, Schuler Shook, Lee Lewis Construction, and Garfield Public/Private, LLC.
“This world-class venue is a means for not only local organizations to form lasting partnerships, but for the entire Lubbock community to come together to celebrate our rich cultural heritage, while supporting unexplored local and international artistry,” said LEPAA Board Chairman Tim Collins.
The partnership announcement will take place at Ballet Lubbock’s Open Barre event, a bi-annual open rehearsal that gives guests a unique peek into the behind-the-scenes creative process. Open Barre will give guests a chance to try their hand at choreography, while seeing a rehearsal of the Arabian scene from The Nutcracker.
Founded in 1969, Ballet Lubbock is a private, non-profit organization that strives to be an integral component of Lubbock’s cultural fabric. The partnership between Ballet Lubbock and LEPAA will have an influential impact on the community by giving a diverse body of students a rare opportunity to learn, practice, and perform in a world-class performing arts venue surrounded by world-class talent.