JUNE 26, 2023
Thank you to everyone for a great dance season. As students move through creative ballet to the discipline of a technical ballet class, it is a joy to see them progress.
It has been a challenging end of the dance year at Jersey City Ballet.
For many reasons, I was reluctant to share our JCBT story.
In the performing arts, we learn never to let them see us sweat.
My husband and JCBT co-founder Rick is a cyclist, fine cabinet maker, animal lover, music and ballet enthusiast, and a perfectionist in all he pursued. Rick was our cheerleader for everything Jersey City Ballet and the best marketer.
He was our behind-the-scenes guy fixing the curtain, hanging lights, and laying the marley floor. Rick made our tree for Peter and the Wolf the Ballet, our very first performance.
Rick was always in the back, clapping loudest and handing out flowers, and loved the after-parties almost as much as the performances. Mostly, he wanted to give back and leave a positive footprint.
We are celebrating Jersey City Ballet Theater's tenth anniversary without him. I won't lie. It has been a heavy lift.
I have been lucky to be surrounded by a group of people that made it possible for us to finish out the year and present our student's showcase. If you are reading this, you probably have spoken to Laurel Mangini. Laurel quietly and graciously stepped into my role when I needed to step out. The faculty, Simon Kazanstev, Estelle Botella, Chloe Rain Russell, and Shannon Grant, continued without hesitation. Our Board of Directors, Christine Lin, and Sonya Cole, have stood by with their full support.
My sincerest thank you to the donors, parents, students, and adult students for their patience, patronage, and support.
As you can imagine, our 10th-anniversary plans were put on hold.
If you believe in signs, the number 11 can symbolize positive thinking and the powers of manifestation and ask you to recognize and use your unique skills to give something back to the world. Rick would have loved that sentiment. Maybe year 11 will be our year to celebrate.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Judith Elins Palacio
Richard J Palacio (11-3-1954 to 3-8-2023) every class, every performance, you will be remembered with love.