01 & 14 (236)
Jennifer L. Hall
From:Elizabeth Barreto <
Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 4:23 PM
To:Public Comment
Subject:Approve Anaheim Ballet agreement
To whom it may concern:
I am a Principal dancer with Ballet Idaho and owe my success to Anaheim Ballet. As a recipient of their "Step
Up" scholarship program, I received free training during the most important years of my development as a
dancer. Lawrence and Sarma Rosenberg are the most community-minded, selfless, and generous directors I
have ever encountered in the dance world, and I greatly urge you to approve the agreement to extend the
timeline for discussion with Anaheim Ballet regarding their new home.
It saddens me to see Anaheim Ballet's beloved home of so many years be taken from them, and I do hope there
is a serious effort being made to find an even better location for their new home in the heart of Anaheim. While
their dance training is world-class, enough praise cannot be given to the impact that the "Step Up" program has
on the local youth of Anaheim. Through their free daily dance classes and outreach programs for
underprivileged Anaheim youth, they teach self awareness, character building, self-worth, self respect, respect
for authority, personal goal setting and achieving, and respect for others. It keeps them out of gangs, away from
drugs, and sets them up for success in life, whether or not that ends up being in the dance field. Many, many
troubled teens entered that program and turned their lives around for good. I can say this because I saw it
during my four years in the program.
Please, if there is any chance of extending the deadline, approving the agreement, help them find a new home
for the Anaheim Cultural Arts Center so that this amazing organization can continue to benefit the community.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barreto (formerly Herrmann)
Anaheim Ballet Alumnus
1