About Dancers First
Invest in talent
The National Ballet of Canada’s Dancers First program is a unique opportunity to celebrate and support our most valuable asset—our talented and acclaimed artists. The National Ballet is committed to providing dancers with dynamic repertoire to perform, competitive salaries, a wellness and health care programme and the best coaches, teachers and guest artists.
Donors to Dancers First are able to cultivate a relationship with a company member and follow the progress of his or her career and on-stage accomplishments with pride, knowing they have helped contribute directly to that dancer’s development. Every donor is invited to exclusive Dancers First events and opportunities to watch rehearsals in addition to receiving special acknowledgements associated with a sponsored dancer.
Your support of Dancers First will help the National Ballet attract and retain a roster of the best dancers in the world.
For more information about supporting the National Ballet’s dancers, please contact:
Diana Reitberger, CFRE
Director of Development
416 345 9686 x306
dreitberger@national.ballet.ca
Our Donors
Diana St. B. Weatherall acts on the need to get involved
“It always appears that Bridgett gets such a joy out of what she’s doing. I find her delightful and I appreciate the opportunity to get to know and understand her a bit better through the Dancers First sponsorship.” – Diana St. B. Weatherall
Mrs. Weatherall is one of the two inaugural donors to the Dancers First sponsorship programme. With an annual contribution to the National Ballet, Ms. Weatherall has sponsored Principal Dancer Bridgett Zehr she since joined the company in 2006.
Through the Dancers First sponsorship programme, Mrs. Weatherall is invited to rehearsals and performances to see Bridgett as well as to the annual Dancers First dinner. “I like getting to know and understand Bridgett a bit better,” she says. “Bridgett is no longer just a beautiful body dancing well on stage, but for me, I can see the expression of her individuality.”
“My family was my example. We grew up with the belief that if you really love something, you do something about it. You have to be more than a spectator – you need to get involved. Donations are important and I want to think that I can be of some help.”