With an annual performance just a week away, the East Tennessee Ballet Academy is receiving help from local small business owners from the community.
A special holiday market is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the Elizabethton Parks & Recreation building to help raise funds to benefit the academy’s upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker”. The performances are scheduled to be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2:30 p.m. inside the Gregory Center at Milligan College.
But as the performers gear up for the event, Erika Perkins saw an opportunity to help the academy help raises funds for the event.
“There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into these productions,” she said. “I am a Luluroe consultant and have been part of these types of events before. I talked with Ashlee (Williams) at the library and she helped get things together with Kelly (Kitchens) at Parks and Recreation so we were able to use that building for the night.”
The idea was a bit impromptu, Perkins added. While working on just two weeks worth of notice, the event is already scheduled to 10 vendors confirmed, ranging from a variety of arts and crafts to direct-sales companies. While there’s 10 confirmed, Perkins added that she can accept vendors for the event until Thursday, Dec. 1, in the evening. The price to set up a booth is $20.
Each of the vendors’ set up fees will go 100 percent toward the East Tennessee Ballet Academy. During the evening, the vendors will also donate 10 percent of earning to benefit next weekend’s performances.
“We’ll also have a gift wrapping table,” Perkins added. “There will also be a table for treats. Donations are suggested but not a requirement.”
Attendees with also be treated by some of the performers taking part in “The Nutcracker”, and even have an opportunity to see a small showing of what will be offered from the larger performances.
“There’s a lot that go into these productions,” Perkins said. “Everyone does a fantastic job and people should be ready for a quality performance.”
Attendees for the actual show will be in for a treat, according to East Tennessee Ballet Academy owner Cindy Bernshausen.
“If people weren’t in the spirit before, they will be after watching Saturday and Sunday’s performances,” she recently told the Elizabethton Star. “It’s a perfect, family-friendly event that encourages imagination, magic and everything beautiful.”
Over 50 performers will take the stage, ranging from five years old to adult. Bernshausen credited Milligan College for their help. Along with Milligan College, the owner also added the Tusculum College is a key asset for the school during their performances throughout the year.
Anyone interested in taking part in Friday’s event needs to contact Perkins by Thursday night. Perkins can be reached by at (423) 342-6868. She added that people can either leave her a voicemail or text.