As BalletX celebrates its 20th Anniversary Season, we’re highlighting members of our donor family who have made their mark on the company’s legacy. This month, we’re thrilled to feature Chuck Arnao and Rosemary Watt, steadfast champions of BalletX since day one.
How did you first get involved with BalletX?
Rosemary and I first met Christine through a silent auction for Pennsylvania Ballet – we won a Phillies game with a dancer (Christine!) in 1996. We stayed in touch and brought our children to see her perform Dewdrop in The Nutcracker. Christine would invite us backstage and then to lunch, and it became a family affair. Over time, we learned how deeply she longed to create work that was less bound by convention, yet still disciplined and emotionally powerful. When Christine and Matt Neenan founded their first company, Phrenic New Ballet, they invited us to join the board, which we happily did. When BalletX was later formed, I stayed on as a board member.
Chuck, you joined the Board and served as Board Chair during a particularly pivotal time for the company. What prompted you to become more deeply involved, and what do you remember most about that period of growth?
Our son probably remembers it best. At eight years old, he was licking envelopes at a Board member’s house in exchange for “free” bagels. Like many nonprofits, BalletX began with a true “working board,” doing whatever was needed with very limited resources. We believed deeply in Christine’s vision: fostering new work, developing choreography, honoring tradition without being bound by it. We could see what that vision might become – Matt’s Frequencies is still one of Rosemary’s favorites – and wanted to help however we could. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of doing more with less. At one point, BalletX was a million-dollar organization with just four and a half full-time staff members, yet the quality of the work kept rising.
What were some of the challenges and opportunities you encountered as Board Chair?
We were building from scratch, with only a sense of the mission to guide us. The early Board was incredibly dedicated, which allowed us to accomplish some amazing things. Together we helped Christine articulate a mission statement we all believed in and could quote by heart. We created the first strategic plan, earned national recognition, including reviews in The New York Times, began touring to places like the Vail Dance Festival, and recruited new Board members with key expertise. All of this happened on a shoestring budget. The hardest part was often having to say no due to limited resources. About five years later, the company could more fully support Christine’s vision, culminating in the eventual lease of the Center for World Premiere Choreography.
How has that Board experience shaped your relationships with the company — then and now?
Before joining the board, we couldn’t tell a fouetté from a pas de chat. We learned how incredibly gifted our dancers are, what extraordinary athletes they are, how hard they train to maintain such an exceptional level of artistry. We learned how much demanding work it takes to make the incredibly difficult look effortless and sublime. Christine and Matt also fostered a true sense of community within and beyond the company. You can’t mention BalletX anywhere in Philadelphia without hearing something positive, and we’re incredibly proud to have played a role in that story.
What are you most proud of when you look at BalletX today?
The company’s strong sense of community and its grounding in the work. BalletX is producing world-class artistry while staying true to its roots and original mission.
What has kept you both involved with BalletX over the years?
It all comes down to the people. The dancers, board, staff, volunteers, donors, Christine and Matt, even the audience – everyone working together to create and enjoy such wonderful programs and artistry.
Are there any performances or moments that have especially stayed with you?
There are so many. We’ve seen Sunset, o639 Hours at least thirty times in different venues, and still notice new details each time. At the Vail Dance Festival, during a standing ovation, a woman next to us said, “I’ve seen dance all over the world, but I’ve never seen anything like that.” That says it all.
What most excites you about seeing BalletX step into its 20th Anniversary Season?
What most excites you about seeing BalletX step into its 20th Anniversary Season?
We never quite know what to expect – and that’s exactly what excites us. The work may challenge us or push us outside our comfort zone. We love listening to audience conversations afterward and hearing the range of reactions. That diversity of response shows BalletX remains true to its mission of expanding contemporary ballet for all audiences.
Inspired by Chuck and Rosemary’s commitment to BalletX? Learn more how you can support BalletX and be part of what’s next at BalletX.org/support!
