Ballet Oklahoma Deals With Tough Times

An organization known for being on its toes has had trouble just staying on its feet lately.  But, Ballet Oklahoma in Oklahoma City has taken a critical step, one intended to provide audiences with another season of plie`s and pirouettes.  The News On 6's Alex Cameron reports ballet has a rich history in Oklahoma, not only has the state produced some of the country's best-known ballerinas, but it's been fortunate to have two outstanding professional companies, the Tulsa Ballet and the Oklahoma City-based Ballet Oklahoma.

But, Ballet Oklahoma has fallen on hard times.  Ticket sales have been down in recent years, donations haven't hit the bar, and the organization went into debt.

Robert Mills is Ballet Oklahoma's new interim artistic director, named to that position on Monday night, after the board of directors carefully weighed an offer by the Tulsa Ballet to merge with them.

The problem now is money:  $1.1 million is what Ballet Oklahoma needs to raise in order to stage four productions next season.  One of those, of course, being the traditional holiday favorite, The Nutcracker.