Ballet Minnesota

Ballet Minnesota: Give to the Max Day 2025

Continuing the legacy of Ballet Minnesota

Ballet Minnesota has spent nearly four decades enriching lives in the Twin Cities community by creating and sharing the beauty of dance through education and public performances. What started out as a dream of Andrew and Cheryl Rist in the 1980s has grown into a pillar of the local community, touching audiences of over 5,000 each year through performances like its annual production of The Classic Nutcracker and the Minnesota Dance Festival.

Across the country, and right here in Minnesota, funding for the arts is facing increasing challenges and unpredictable cuts. Institutional grants are shrinking and public support is shifting, making this a critical moment for the future of non-profit ballet companies.

Your individual support on Give to the Max Day is not just a gift—it is the lifeline that protects and sustains Ballet Minnesota’s legacy. It provides the stable, flexible funding we need to keep the music playing, the dancers on stage, and the production accessible to our community.

 Your gift today supports:

• Aspiring artists as young as four years old, who are given the opportunity to perform onstage with a professional ballet company through Ballet Minnesota’s partnership with Classical Ballet Academy;
• Public school students and community members, who are able to experience professional ballet performances at an affordable rate;
• Current and future production costs, such as set pieces, backdrops, costumes, and the tech teams necessary to bring performances to life;
• Incredibly gifted artists such as renowned guests and company dancers who share their talents with the community each year. 

When you support Ballet Minnesota today, you become a champion of the arts at a time when they need it most. You’re giving the gift of beauty, movement, and opportunity to countless individuals in our local community, ensuring the curtain rises for years to come.

Please join us in investing in the future of Ballet Minnesota. All gifts, of all sizes, make a difference and have an immediate impact. With your support, we can continue enriching lives through dance.