[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 452--RECOGNIZING THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL 
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE THROUGHOUT ITS 65 YEARS OF 
            SERVICE AS ``AMERICA'S NATIONAL BALLET COMPANY''

  Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Dole) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 452

       Whereas American Ballet Theatre (known as ``ABT'') is 
     recognized as one of the world's great dance companies;
       Whereas ABT is dedicated to bringing dance to the United 
     States and dance of the United States to the world;
       Whereas, over its 65-year history, ABT has appeared in all 
     50 States of the United States, in a total of 126 cities, and 
     has performed for more than 600,000 people annually;
       Whereas ABT has performed in 42 countries as perhaps the 
     most representative ballet company of the United States, with 
     many of those engagements sponsored by the Department of 
     State;
       Whereas ABT has been home to the world's most accomplished 
     dancers and has commissioned works by all of the great 
     choreographic geniuses of the 20th century;
       Whereas President Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized ABT's 
     ability to convey through the medium of ballet ``some measure 
     of understanding of America's cultural environment and 
     inspiration'';
       Whereas over the years ABT has performed repeatedly at the 
     White House, most recently in December 2005;
       Whereas ABT is committed to bringing dance to a broad 
     audience and provides exposure to dance to more than 20,000 
     underprivileged children and their families each year;
       Whereas ABT's award-winning Make a Ballet program and its 
     other outreach initiatives help to meet the need for arts 
     education in underserved schools and communities;
       Whereas ABT's Studio Company brings world class ballet to 
     smaller communities like--
       (1) Rochester, New York;
       (2) Stamford, Connecticut;
       (3) Sanibel, Florida;
       (4) South Hadley, Massachusetts; and
       (5) Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and
       Whereas the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT and 
     the ABT's other artistic development initiatives provide the 
     highest quality training consistent with the professional 
     standards of ABT: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and commends the American Ballet Theatre for 
     over 65 years of service as ``America's National Ballet 
     Company'', during which it has provided world class art to 
     audiences in all 50 States;
       (2) recognizes that the American Ballet Theatre also serves 
     as a true cultural ambassador for the United States, by 
     having performed in 42 countries and fulfilling its 
     reputation as one of the world's most revered and innovative 
     dance companies; and
       (3) recognizes that the American Ballet Theatre's extensive 
     and innovative education, outreach, and artistic development 
     programs both train future generations of great dancers and 
     expose students to the arts.

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