Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are an integral component of our organization. It is a great way to get involved in this art form and be a part of our community on a deeper level. There are many ways to assist from selling keepsakes to young patrons of The Nutcracker at our Gift Shop, to hosting a dinner for a guest dancer. Your volunteer time is invaluable to the success of our organization.

Front House:

People who volunteer in the “Front House” during productions have a variety of things they can choose from. Without our Front House “crew,” we couldn’t provide some of the extras which complete patrons’ theatre experience.

• Gift Shop - At each performance, we offer patrons the opportunity to bring home a little bit of the ballet with them through our Gift Shop. These volunteers give some of their time to help sell items at the Gift Shop under the supervision of a veteran Gift Shop volunteer and generally give 1.5-2 hours at a time.

• Coat Check - During certain performances, we will offer patrons the option of checking their coats or jackets at the Coat Check station so they do not have to take it into the auditorium. We ask for small donations from patrons who utilize this service. Coat Check volunteers generally give 2 hours of their time.

• Sugar Plum Parties- These special performance add-ons are fun ways to extend the performance magic. After matinee performances of The Nutcracker, there are parties patrons may attend where they can meet the characters, get autographs, as well as goodies to take home with them. Volunteers for these events give approximately 1.5-2 hours at the events and share the priceless opportunity to see the children respond to seeing their favorite characters.

Back House:

Backstage is where hard work makes the stage magic look effortless! There are many ways eager hands can be put to work if you’ve ever had an interest in stage craft, theatre, or make-up.

• Production Crew - The production crew does many things which include props, moving backdrops, operating lights and sound. The production crew is very busy during the theatre run, but volunteers learn valuable skills and develop a great camaraderie with all the “behind the scenes” people.

• Costumes - Whether you are a budding seamstress or a veteran, volunteers help our Costumer create luscious pieces of artwork. While you don’t have to have a ton of experience in making ballet costumes, some working knowledge of sewing is helpful. Volunteering in the Costume Shop can be done throughout the year, not just during productions. You may volunteer throughout the year at the Costume Shop at the studios if you have an interest and talent in costume construction.

“Street Team”:

Fort Wayne Ballet’s “Street Team” is a small group of people who take posters or flyers out into the public so that our community is aware of the great things going on in our organization. If you go to interesting places, like coffee shops or eateries, who are interested in posting materials about our upcoming events, like performances or special events.

Special Events:

Fort Wayne Ballet hosts various special events through the year for fundraising purposes. You can be part of these events through the planning process or just the night of the event. Your level of involvement depends on your interests and the time you have to give.