Ballet Company Fund Raising

[artspatron07]

In light of the funding challenges that many American Ballet companies face during a tight economy, I thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss the pros and cons of ballet companies that market individual sponsorship of dancers to their donor base verses keeping funding raising efforts less dancer specific. (I am referring to companies that specifically advertise individual sponsorships for individual dancers. For example, " Dancer Z is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. X".) Does this method of fund raising assist or hinder artistic license? Does this form of fundraising cause unhealthy competition among dancer ranks? Does this form of fund raising have a positive or a negative effect on dancer salaries? Which companies in the United States use this form of fund raising, and is it effective with regard raising performance quality? Is this practice has done in Europe? Is it an effective tool for recruiting and retaining talent?