Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Receives Grant

, based in Snellville, has received a grant in the amount of $30,000 from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.

This grant marks the second year that the dance company has received a grant from this organization. In the fall of 2010, the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund awarded a major grant to the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. This grant is given to support the nonprofit's general operations.

“The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund's vote of confidence provides us all with the inspiration we need to continue pushing toward our ambitious goals of providing excellence in dance education in our community and surrounding areas," said Jaime Robtison, artistic director.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund provides grants, strategic support, and related management consulting to small and midsized arts organizations throughout the metro-Atlanta region.

Len Diprima, board chairman of the dance company, stated:

“We are honored to be the recipient of this generous grant. We are elated that the Arts Fund has identified GBT as an organization that works diligently to serve our community and the metro Atlanta area with a quality of dance and music that will draw the community's attention to the arts, draw others into the arts field, employ artists, and most of all reach out to those who may not be exposed to the arts under normal circumstances. We will prudently utilize these funds to assist in fulfilling this mission.”

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre (GBT) will celebrate its 30^th anniversary production of Dec. 3-18, at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Duluth, Ga.

GBT also provides outreach in the form of classes, performances, and ticketing to community organizations and to underserved audiences. For more information on GBT and The Nutcracker, please visit the web site at www.gwinnettballet.org.

(Editor's Note: This article was taken from a press release from Gwinnett Ballet Theatre.)