Ballerinas and Baseball at Coolray Field

The combination of baseball and ballerinas might sound like an unusual mix, but on Sunday, April 15, at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, the combination hit a home run.

The Gwinnett Braves Foundation gave Snellville-based (GBT) a grant in December 2011 in support of its Dance Project. The program allows elementary school students to enjoy a full education in dance over 16 weeks during the school year.

To celebrate this donation, the Gwinnett Braves invited the ballet company to its opening Sunday game against the Durham Bulls. During the game, the ballet company was acknowledged and received a check for $1,000.

In addition, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre sold tickets to the exciting post-game event, the "Tennis Toss." Hundreds of people vied for great prizes supplied by the Gwinnett Braves, and the ballet compant was able to keep the proceeds as an additional fundraiser. 

"Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is so excited to work with the Gwinnett Braves," said Holley Calmes, marketing director for Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. "We love working with our fellow Gwinnett organizations, and we applaud the G-Braves’ generosity.

"It was a great day, and we appreciate the opportunity to show the G-Braves fans what GBT is doing in the community.”

In addition to the recognition and fundraising, photographer Richard Calmes brought three of the GBT ballerinas to Coolray Field before the game for some creative posing in a baseball setting. The results were a comical, yet elegant, take on what would happen if ballerinas played baseball.

Dancers Maggie Ellington, Claire Bockhop and Samantha Kaczor, all students at , wore pretty tutus as they practiced sliding into home plate, snagging a fly ball, and waiting in line at the hot dog concession -- pointing their toes at every step.

Richard Calmes is the official photographer for Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, but he is also internationally recognized as a preeminent dance photographer, with 13 magazine covers and two published books of his work.

• For more information about the Gwinnett Braves, visit their web site at http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t431 .
• For information about GBT, visit www.gwinnettballet.org.
• Enjoy Calmes’ photography at www.pbase.com/rcalmes.
• The direct link to the "Baseball and Ballerinas" gallery is: www.pbase.com/rcalmes/ballerinas_and_baseball.

(Editor's note: This article comes from a press release from Gwinnett Ballett Theatre.)