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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ballet Lubbock is celebrating its 40th anniversary |
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throughout the 2009-2010 season, which commences on May 5, 2009; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The only pre-professional performing company on the |
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South Plains, Ballet Lubbock was founded in 1969 by Suzanne Aker, |
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who served as its first artistic director and choreographer; Ms. |
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Aker earned teacher certification from the Royal Academy of Dance |
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in London and taught professionally for more than a half-century |
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before her retirement in 2000; Yvonne Racz, one of her former |
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students, has served as artistic director since 1997; and |
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WHEREAS, A graduate of the University of Utah, Ms. Racz has |
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performed with a number of professional dance companies, as well as |
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in Cirque du Soleil's Mystere, and has extensive experience as a |
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teacher and choreographer; she currently serves as an adjunct |
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professor of dance at Texas Tech University; the recipient of a |
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Dynamic Force/ACE Award from the Lubbock Arts Alliance, she was |
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recognized in 2008 by The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal as one of the |
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100 most influential people in the city; under her able leadership, |
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the Ballet Lubbock School has grown tenfold; and |
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WHEREAS, Ballet Lubbock teaches nearly 200 students |
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annually, and over the years, more than 50 alumni have gone on to |
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professional performing, choreography, and teaching careers in the |
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United States and abroad; in addition to nurturing love and respect |
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for the art of classical dance, the school's classes emphasize |
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strong discipline and correct technique, and students are |
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consistently accepted into top-ranked summer ballet programs and |
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intensives across the country; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, Ballet Lubbock presents holiday |
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performances of The Nutcracker and a spring ballet such as The |
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Firebird, the 2009 selection; the organization fosters |
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appreciation of classical dance through both performance and |
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educational outreaches, offering classes at three community |
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centers and providing scholarships to talented dancers in need; it |
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has donated numerous tickets for performances to senior centers, |
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the Buckner Children's Home, and other social service agencies, and |
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since 2006, Ballet Lubbock has partnered with Lubbock Independent |
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School District to bring more than 2,000 children to free |
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performances of The Nutcracker; Ms. Racz also makes personal school |
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appearances to teach students basic ballet and to prepare them for |
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their first experience of Tchaikovsky's timeless musical tale; and |
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WHEREAS, Ballet Lubbock has introduced children to classical |
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dance over the past four decades and has increased access to a great |
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art form through its annual performances and generous outreaches; |
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as the company commences its 2009-2010 season, it is indeed fitting |
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to recognize its contributions to the West Texas arts scene; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate all those associated with Ballet |
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Lubbock on the 40th anniversary of this noteworthy organization and |
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extend to them best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the company as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |