New York City Ballet numbers UP at spac for 2011, yippee!!

Ballet numbers upJuly 28, 2011 at 4:36 pm by Dennis Yusko
Total attendance at the New York City Ballet shows rose 6.2 percent above last year at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, SPAC officials announced Thursday.

Some 36,800 patrons attended the two-week summer season from July 5 – 16, up from 34,509 in 2010 and 34,895 in 2009, when the season was shortened to two weeks from three, according to SPAC.

The ballet attracted 45,034 people in 2007 and 42,354 in 2008, according to SPAC.

Ticket sales for 2011 were projected to reach $936,000, an increase of eight percent, SPAC officials said. They credited the gains to “a season of stellar programming, a highly successful “Gatsby” Ballet Gala and glowing reviews.”

“We are pleased and grateful that dance audiences turned out so strongly for New York City Ballet’s SPAC Season,” said Marcia White, SPAC president and executive director. ”The Ballet presented spectacular programming including Peter Martins’ wonderful production of The Magic Flute, landmark Balanchine works and a fabulous jazz-themed Gala program.” Great weather, popular pre-shows and devoted audiences also played huge roles, she said.

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s season extends from July 27 to August 13.

save the victoria pool society umbrella fundraiser still receiving checks. The generosity of pool fans knows no bounds.

The Victoria Pool open until 8 pm was glorious with the late afternoon sun. It was beyond special and we hope Governor Cuomo will do it again.

Double news FLASH! Victoria Pool will be open until 8PM on Fri.,7/22 and Sat., 7/23 due to heat wave! Yeah!!

Lions are roaring again. Our beloved Lions Heads were turned back on today and have water coming out of their mouths with the most beautiful sound again.

we love the new umbrellas thanks to all your wonderful contributions.

our lovey Joel here from ct. for his cherished annual visit to the pool and ballet with his buddies, Holly and Lily.

SPAC is out to get rid of New York City Ballet again???

Once again the powers-that-be at SPAC are beating the drum to threaten the demise of the greatest ballet company in the world having its summer home in Saratoga as it has for the past glorious 45 years. Instead of charging reasonable prices they do the opposite and ensure the seats will not be full. Then they say people don't want the ballet anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. Have a few nights at $25 a seat and see what happens. There are many creative approaches that can be enlisted to save the New York City Ballet besides free Meat and Beer that SPAC could try if they cared at all. Saratoga has plenty of rich people that could give to the ballet if it was marketed properly. The ushers act like "Nazi nurses" towards the public and turn people off from wanting to come to SPAC more than ever. SPAC was built for the New York City Ballet in 1966 which the current Board does not seem to care about the Arts at all. For those of us who worked tirelessly the first time to save the New York City Ballet we are ready to fight again for the good of the arts and soul of SPAC.
The article below appeared in today's Saratogian.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic uncertainty, decline of fine arts could threaten New York City Ballet's future with SPAC
Published: Sunday, July 10, 2011

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New York City Ballet dancers perform in “Thou Swell” Saturday evening at SPAC. (ERICA MILLER/emiller@saratogian.com)





Fred Wilhelm pours a glass of champagne for his wife, Winnie, on the lawn of Saratoga Performing Arts Center before the Saturday evening performances of “Thou Swell,” “Plainspoken” and “For the Love of Duke.” (ERICA MILLER/emiller@saratogian.com)

By SUZANNA K. LOURIE
slourie@saratogian.com



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Ballet-goers gather on the lawn at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on opening night of New York City Ballet’s two-week 2011 residency. With the economy hurting sponsors and attendance figures and ticket sales suffering, it remains to be seen whether SPAC will be able to continue hosting the ballet’s classical programs. (ERIC JENKS/photos@saratogian.com)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On a warm July night in 1966, the New York City Ballet lit up the amphitheatre at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center with its version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the company’s first performance in Saratoga Springs.

Forty-five years later, the ballet continues its annual summer residency at SPAC despite a tough economic climate and the decline of the fine arts in today’s tech-oriented culture.

After SPAC’s 2008 season, the New York City Ballet board met with SPAC administrators and reached a joint decision to cut the ballet season from three weeks to two weeks every summer.

“The cost of production goes up every year and attendance was going down,” SPAC President Marcia White said. “Life is different now. With the emergence of technology, people are busier and have more choices at their fingertips; there’s not as much time for the arts.”

After testing out the two-week season in 2009, attendance numbers seemed to confirm that shortening the season was the right decision. The shorter season featured seven fewer shows than the previous year’s three-week season did, but the average attendance for each show rose by 24 percent and average ticket income increased by 19 percent.

But with the shorter season, fewer spectators had time to make it to the ballet, as the 2009 total attendance was down nearly 20 percent from the previous year.

The 2010 season pulled nearly flat attendance levels, down just 1 percent from the previous year, and total income fell by 8 percent.

Despite changing times and a trying economy, White made it clear that Saratoga Performing Arts Center values the New York City Ballet’s residency.

Bringing the ballet back for another year is “something we reconsider every year,” White said. “But SPAC is committed to doing everything and anything to keep the ballet.”

Despite SPAC’s dedication, bringing the ballet to Saratoga Springs is not cheap. White reported that the overall cost for SPAC to host the ballet’s two-week residency is $1.8 million — that’s down from the $2.2 million cost of a three-week season. Continued...


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save the victoria pool society board member, Holly and daughter, Liliana spend another perfect day in Paradise. Five weekends in July to enjoy.

lines to enter all afternoon at the Victoria Pool, 110 in line at opening.

Capacity was reached at Victoria Pool @12:40 on a perfect 2nd of July, 2011.

The new Victoria Pool umbrellas are here! All thanks to the incredible generosity of so many Victoria Pool lovers. Thank you.

Victoria Pool reopens today for the season! Rain, rain, go away!

Victoria Pool Fundraiser 6/19/11

Mayor Scott Johnson of Saratoga Springs and Andrew Jennings, co-founder, save the victoria pool society at first fundraiser by the society.

A luckily fit John Tighe first in Victoria Pool on a magnificent opening day.

Victoria Pool opening day, 6/18/11, less than one hour, yeh!!!

FLASH! VICTORIA POOL TO OPEN EARLIER FOR FUNDRAISER WEEKEND, JUNE 18,19,2011, WHOOPIE!!!

Victoria Pool opening early
Published: Thursday, June 16, 2011

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Victoria Pool will open Saturday, a week earlier than previously scheduled. The pool, located in Saratoga Spa State Park, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Friends of the Victorial Pool Society will hold a fundraiser at the pool from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

After this weekend, the pool will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning June 25.

Admission to the pool is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

5 days to go till Victoria Pool fundraiser, come one come all.

Umbrellas for Victoria Pool
June 14, 2011 at 6:14 pm by Dennis Yusko
The Save the Victoria Pool Society is holding its first fundraising activity to assist the state with improvements at “America’s most historic and beautiful pool” in Saratoga Spa State Park.

The group is hosting a gathering of food, friends and possibly music at the Victoria Pool lobby from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday to help the state with its purchase of 20 large pool umbrellas for the stately pool, which officially opens June 25.

Umbrellas at the Great Depression-era watering hole are popular among sunbathers, who use them for shade. They are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. But the ones that remain have fallen into disrepair, pool users say.

“The unbrellas at the pool are falling apart or non-existent,” said Louise Goldstein, a founding memory of the society. The state has ordered green umbrellas that are historically accurate for the pool that cost about $200 each, she said.

The suggested donation for Sunday’s fundraiser is $25. Checks should be made to NHT (Natural Heritage Trust) for Saratoga Spa State Park, care of Louise Goldstein, 64 North St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.


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Victoria Pool group in search of shade
The Save the Victoria Pool Society is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday that organizers hope will allow them to work with the state and buy a collection of umbrellas to use on the pool deck.

Louise Goldstein, the group’s co-founder, said the hope is that the fundraiser will raise enough money to purchase at least 20 umbrellas. The umbrellas, which cost around $200 a piece, will be purchased through the state using donations from Sunday’s fundraiser, she said.

Visitors to the pool can bring their own umbrellas, of course, but Goldstein said buying a set would give the pool a uniform look that is in keeping with its 76-year-old history.

“There’s a historic look to the pool and if everybody brings their own it starts to look like any other pool,” she said.

Additional proceeds could go towards the purchase of water pumps that recycle water and would allow two water-sprouting lion’s heads inside the pool to be turned back on.

Sunday’s fundraiser will run from noon to 3 p.m. at the pool lobby and include food and beverages. Free entertainment is still being sought. The suggested donation is $25.

The event marks the first time the advocacy group has held a fundraiser to support the pool since forming in 2003 when it was at risk of closing. Group members have previously focused on getting the facility open by Memorial Day — which remains a goal — and pressuring parks officials to make improvements using taxpayer money.

“We always thought it was our money anyways, because we all pay taxes, but times are tough,” Goldstein said.

Parks officials plan to open the Victoria Pool by June 25.

– Drew Kerr

Victoria Pool Fundraiser almost here, Sunday, Father's Day, June 19,2011, Noon-3PM.

The key to keeping it cool: Spa State Park officials ready Victoria Pool
Published: Thursday, June 09, 2011

0diggsdigg ShareThis0By LUCIAN McCARTY
lmccarty@saratogian.com

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Spa State Park regional plumber Allan Eddy cleans the bottom of Victoria pool after it was filled recently. The pool is set to open June 25. (ERICA MILLER, emiller@saratogian.com)
SARATOGA SPRINGS — With the dog days of summer coming early this year (before summer, in fact), many people in the city are looking for ways to cool off. Soon, they can employ the same method many Saratogians have for the last century.

The Victoria Pool is full of water already and Spa State Park officials are working through the process of opening it for the season, something that is not as easy as it appears.

The pool takes a week to fill, followed by chemical tests and retests to make sure the pH of the pool is good for swimming and there is no bacteria brewing in the water. This year, park officials decided the pool needed to be painted as well.

“That was another added step,” park manager Michael Greenslade said. And of course, the weather plays a big factor in when all of that process can take place.

“It would have been great to have the pool open for the last day or two,” he said. “But three or four days ago, it was only about 50 degrees.”

He said the opening of the park has been an issue this year because of the weather, with mowing and everything else required in the spring at Spa State Park .

Wednesday night, Greenslade met with Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson and Save Victoria Pool Society Board Chair Louise Goldstein to discuss some of the collaborative potential for the three.

“This was the first time a city mayor ever met with the park manager regarding the Victoria Pool,” Johnson said. “That surprised me.”

“It was a historic meeting,” said Goldstein, mentioning the three have never sat down around a table together. “It was a great dialogue and I hope it can continue.”

Goldstein said she and her group are constantly trying to get the pool open earlier. “For decades, it opened Memorial Day and that’s what we are pushing for.” Continued...

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At this point, Green-slade said the scheduled date for opening is

June 25, but he hopes to have the facility open earlier. And while he said the meeting was a first for the three of them, he stressed, “We already have a good working relationship with the city,” and he sees Goldstein once or twice a week during the summer and periodically at other times. “She loves the park.”

“They are putting a good foot forward by pursuing what is a treasure of the park,” Johnson said.

The Save Victoria Pool Society is also holding a fundraiser June 19 at the pool to raise money for umbrellas to line it. “They are falling apart,” Goldstein said. She said the umbrellas are $200 apiece because they have to adhere to historic specifications that are consistent with the historic pool.

The event will have food and refreshments and Save Victoria Pool Society is asking for a suggested contribution of $25 for the cause. Goldstein said the group is also seeking musical entertainment for the show.

For more information, call Goldstein at 683-8476 or email vicpool@aol.com.

Those who would like to contribute can make checks payable to NHT for Saratoga State Park and mail it to 64 North St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

local blog notes Victoria Pool fundraiser coming up, sunday, june 19,2011, noon to 3.

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Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Suck it dad...I'm saving the Vic on fathers day




There are a few things in this world we absolutely love and that we'd give our lives for. One being eating stew dogs with an ice cold Coke in the Stewarts parking lot, cute baby photos and spending our days at The Victoria Pool at The Saratoga State Park. Unfortunately the Vic could be taken away from us due to bad state budgeting. Pffft...like we need more fire fighters and cops. Thankfully a bunch of people have banned together to save the pool. They call themselves the Save The Victoria Pool Society and those lovable snooties snoots are throwing a big ol' fundraiser on Sunday June 19th in the lobby of the Vic to help raise enough cash to keep the place nice and clean and the bar full of liquors. $25 is the suggested donation but they'll take whatever you can afford. If for some reason you can't make it but still want to help out, you can send them a check to:
Save The Victoria Pool Society
64 North St
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Make your check payable to NHT for Saratoga Spa State Park


If you gotz questions you can call Louise at 518.683.8476
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Labels: Saratoga, Saratoga Springs, Save the Victoria Pool

Victoria Pool Fundraiser at Victoria Pool on Sunday, june 19,2011, noon to 3pm. Come spend father's day with us and contribute to your favorite pool.

Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated with a $25 suggested contribution. Send checks to:
Save the Victoria Pool Society
64 north st.
saratoga Springs, ny 12866

MAKE check payable to:
NHT for Saratoga Spa State Park

any questions call Louise: 518-683-8476