 
Assembly Resolution No. 42
 
BY: M. of A. Magnarelli
 
        COMMEMORATING  the  20th Anniversary   of Syracuse
        City Ballet, Inc.
 
  WHEREAS,  The  arts,  in  whatever  form,  are  central   to   human
expression;  they  are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and  understanding  among  all  peoples
cannot be underestimated; and
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those artistic  organizations  which  have  brought  outstanding
entertainment and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State
of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate  the  20th  Anniversary  of  Syracuse City Ballet, Inc.; the
company kicked off  its  20th  Anniversary  2016-2017  Season  with  "An
Intimate  Evening  with  Syracuse  City  Ballet,"  a  show that combines
classical ballet and modern  dance,  at  the  Syracuse  OnCenter  Bevard
Studio on September 22, 2016; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Syracuse City Ballet has and will continue the celebration
of its 20th Anniversary season  with  The  Nutcracker  at  the  OnCenter
Crouse  Hinds  Theater  on December 3, 2016, and will cap off the season
with Snow White, at Crouse Hinds Theater on March 10 and 12, 2017; and
 
  WHEREAS, Syracuse  City  Ballet  is  the  only  professional  ballet
company serving the Central New York community, creating family-oriented
entertainment  while  offering  opportunities  for  local  professional,
pre-professional, and student dancers to perform classical and  premiere
works with national and international guest artists; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Since  1996,  Syracuse  City Ballet has staged live-action
entertainment, trained professional dancers, and enriched the  community
through various youth outreach efforts; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Syracuse  City  Ballet  was  founded by Associate Director
Harriet Casey and Artistic Director Kathleen Rathbun, who has  extensive
experience in dance, and trained with the Syracuse Ballet Theater before
moving to New York City to attend Juilliard on a scholarship; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Upon  graduating,  Kathleen  Rathbun  danced for Princeton
Ballet Society of New  Jersey,  and  then  subsequently  moved  home  to
Syracuse; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Upon  her  return,  Kathleen  Rathbun  discovered that the
Syracuse  Ballet  Theater  she  once  trained  with  was  no  longer  in
existence,  so  she  taught  classical ballet at Syracuse University and
formerly served as the Director at the Metropolitan School of the  Arts;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  As  a  teacher,  Kathleen  Rathbun has in-depth experience
developing young dancers' technique, strength, and  artistry;  when  the
 
Metropolitan  School  of  the  Arts  closed, Kathleen was eager to bring
ballet and dance back to Syracuse, so she decided to open her own school
to continue sharing her knowledge and passion with young men and  women;
and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1990, Kathleen Rathbun founded Ballet & Dance of Upstate
New York; after a few years of successfully establishing her school, she
felt it was important to provide her students the opportunity to perform
in   major  classical  ballets  alongside  professional,  world-renowned
dancers; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 1996, Syracuse City Ballet, originally named Upstate  NY
Ballet,  was  co-founded  by  Executive  Director  Kathleen  Rathbun and
Associate  Director  Harriet  Casey;  the  company  premiered   with   a
performance of Snow White; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Twenty  years  later,  Kathleen  Rathbun and Harriet Casey
continue to inspire youth, professionals, and  audiences  through  their
productions  of  major ballets, their participation in dozens of charity
events, and their collaboration with major arts organizations; and
 
  WHEREAS, Over the years,  Syracuse  City  Ballet  has  developed  an
impressive  repertoire,  including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Peter Pan,
Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet,  and  a
number  of  other  ballets  which  have performed to capacity houses and
four-star reviews; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  addition,   Syracuse   City   Ballet   has   presented
choreography  in  multiple  performances  such  as:  the  Armory  Square
Candlelight Series, Syracuse Opera's La Traviata,  Syracuse  Shakespeare
Festival, Vision of Sounds Series, Regina F. Goldenberg Cultural Series,
CNY Mode Fashion Show, CRAVE Arts Festival, and Syracuse Fringe Festival
to name a few; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Syracuse  City  Ballet's  growth  from a small grass-roots
venture to a ranking professional ballet has secured a dance presence in
Central New York; and
 
  WHEREAS, A vibrant arts community encourages collaboration, instills
local pride, draws people together, and is essential  to  a  community's
vitality;  over  the past 20 years, Syracuse City Ballet has contributed
to the richness of Central New York's cultural palette; and
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when artistic
societies of such noble aims and  accomplishments  are  brought  to  our
attention,  they  should be recognized by all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  20th Anniversary of Syracuse City Ballet, Inc.; and be
it further
 
  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted   to  Executive  and  Artistic  Director  Kathleen  Rathbun,
Associate Director Harriet Casey, and Syracuse  City  Ballet  staff  and
Board of Directors.
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Syracuse City Ballet, Inc.

What's Happening

Why It Matters
