Flood damages Minnesota Ballet sets

The Minnesota Ballet suffered extensive harm to its sets and drops from the recent flood. Approximately 90 percent of the performance sets and drops kept in its Duluth storage facility were damaged.

Damaged pieces are from productions including “Dracula,” “Cinderella,” the 1997 “Nutcracker,” and so many more. The ballet’s three studios, extensive costume collection, and sets of the current “Nutcracker” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream” productions made it out safely.

A four-day effort to remove sets from the storage facility began on Wednesday, June 20 in 18 inches of water. Ballet staff and volunteers first rescued the set of “Dracula,” which the ballet plans to present October 19-22 at the DECC Symphony Hall.

Volunteers and staff hung more than 40 hand-painted drops to dry in the rigging above the DECC Symphony Hall stage. They sprayed them with disinfectant and then hauled the remaining set pieces from the storage facility, setting them up to dry.

Ballet officials are uncertain how many of the sets and drops will be salvageable. They all were hand-painted and created specifically for the Ballet by regional and national artists. The sets and drops constitute a huge part of the Minnesota Ballet assets and livelihood.

If you would like to help, tax-deductible donations may be made by mail to Minnesota Ballet, 301 West First Street, Suite 800, Duluth MN 55802, online at the ballet’s website at minnesotaballet.org, or by phone: 218-529-3742.

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