Friday, October 16, 2026

Dear Friends of the Sarasota Ballet,

As the new Chair of the Friends of The Sarasota Ballet, taking over from the wonderful Pat Golemme, I’m delighted to welcome you all to the 2026 - 2027 Season. I hope you were able to see some of the fantastic performances last year, and I hope you're up to date on the exciting Season Iain Webb has planned for this year beginning with Program One, October 23 – 25 featuring “Divertissements” by Sir Frederick Ashton; Wolfgang for Webb, a ballet created by Dominic Walsh expressly for Iain Webb; and the Company premiere of Gemma Bond’s Manner.

As a special treat for the Friends, Gemma Bond will be our guest speaker for our first Showcase Luncheon on October 26 at Michaels On East.

I hope you’ll take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to see Gemma’s Ballet, then get to know the artist over lunch with Friends.

For the Holidays, we have another treat for you on December 21 – A Friends’ Nutcracker Brunch at the Art Ovation Hotel downtown followed by a Matinee performance of The Nutcracker at the Sarasota Opera House – a short walk away - featuring The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company with students from across the Sarasota Ballet School, Conservatory, and Dance – The Next Generation. Come connect with Friends and maybe bring one of your friends as a guest to introduce them to The Sarasota Ballet.

After we ring in the new year, we have another new event for Friends on February 1^st – Dinner and The Ballet! Join us on the Mezzanine of FSU Center for

the Performing Arts for an early Friends dinner followed by the evening performance of Program Four - a thrilling combination of some of ballet’s greatest choreographers – George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, and Ashley Page.

We head back to Michael's On East for more Showcase Luncheons on March 8 and April 12 with speakers to be announced soon. In between, you won’t want to miss Sir Frederick Ashton’s enchanting Romeo & Juliet performed by our dancers at the Van Wezel, with the Sarasota Orchestra on March 26 and 27.

All our opportunities are available online. Click here to purchase performance tickets and learn more about the season. Click Friends Special Events to find and purchase all five Friends events for the 2026 - 27 season including the Nutcracker Brunch and Dinner and The Ballet .

As a member of the Friends, we are thrilled that you’ve chosen to support The Sarasota Ballet, engage with our artists, and connect with other dance enthusiasts. If you’d like to become more involved, there are opportunities for Friends volunteers to help at the Ticket Will Call desk before performances, or as Greeters at Friends Luncheons and Events, or as helpers within our Community Engagement programs. Look for an e-mail from Friends of The Sarasota Ballet detailing these opportunities soon.

This year will be Iain’s 20th season with The Sarasota Ballet. Friends of the Ballet have been there from the beginning. Let’s celebrate success!

Sandra DeFeo


Chair
Friends of The Sarasota Ballet

For membership questions or to renew or join by phone, please contact The Friends at The Sarasota Ballet at 941.225.6504 or email friends@sarasotaballet.org.