orangeburgcivicballet.org

You can support Orangeburg Civic Ballet (OCB) by donating through its "Support OCB" page, joining its mailing list, attending performances such as the December 11–12 Nutcracker and Polar Express shows, or exploring the sponsor recognition featured on its site. According to OCB, contributions sustain its productions, fund scholarships, and help keep ballet available in the Orangeburg community. The site does not publish specific giving levels, sponsorship tiers, or payment methods, so confirm those details directly with OCB before committing to a particular form of support.

Where Your Support Goes

OCB describes three concrete uses for contributions:

• Productions — funding the performances that make up its season, including the December holiday shows.
• Scholarships — three named awards applied directly to tuition: the Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship (ages 9–13), the Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship (ages 14–high school), and the Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship (collegiate students pursuing dance studies).
• Community presence — keeping ballet programming available in Orangeburg, including educational outreach such as school performances.

This matters if you want your support tied to a specific outcome. A gift aimed at scholarships and a gift aimed at production costs both fit under the same "Support OCB" umbrella on the site, but OCB does not publish a way to designate funds online, so ask before assuming a restriction applies.

Ways to Support OCB

If You Want to Give Money

Start with the "Support OCB" link on the homepage. Because the site does not list payment platforms or giving tiers, treat the page as a starting point rather than a complete checkout process — you may need to follow up by contacting OCB to complete a gift or discuss a sponsorship.

If You Want to Give Time or Visibility

The sponsor section signals that OCB works with community partners, but the site does not describe what sponsors receive. If you represent a business, ask OCB directly about recognition, event visibility, and timing relative to the December performances.

If You Mainly Want to Attend

Tickets for the December 11–12 performances go on sale in early November. Joining the mailing list is the site's stated route to early access, so do that first if tickets are your priority. Note that the site's events section currently reads "No events at the moment" even though the holiday performances are announced — use the mailing list rather than the events calendar as your source of timing.

A Practical Sequence

1. Decide your goal — scholarship support, production support, sponsorship visibility, or simply attending.
2. Join the mailing list — this covers ticket timing and company announcements in one step.
3. Visit "Support OCB" — for donations, and note whether a payment option is offered.
4. Contact OCB for anything unspecified — sponsorship terms, designated gifts, or payment methods.
5. Mark early November — ticket sales open then for the December 11–12 shows.

Common Stumbling Points

• The events calendar looks empty. The announced holiday performances are described in the site's update text, not the events module. Rely on the mailing list.
• No published prices or giving levels. The site does not state ticket prices, donation amounts, or sponsorship costs; do not assume any figure.
• Scholarship applications are separate. They are not a donation channel — applications appear on the OCB Band (Files) "once available," and the process includes a dance audition.

For anything beyond what the site states, OCB itself is the authoritative source on how support is accepted and acknowledged.

The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park is a nonprofit organization that raises money and builds community partnerships to support arts, culture, and recreation in Overland Park, Kansas. If you live in or near the city, its work shows up in places you may already visit: Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, and public art projects across the community. The foundation itself is not a city department; it works alongside the city and donors to fund enhancements, programs, and special projects that go beyond what tax dollars alone cover.

What the Foundation Actually Does

Think of the foundation as a charitable partner for Overland Park's cultural and recreational assets. Its role generally includes:

• Fundraising: Accepting donations and gifts that are directed toward specific attractions, programs, or public art.
• Community partnerships: Working with businesses, civic groups, and residents who want to support local amenities.
• Events: Hosting or supporting events that both raise funds and give the community a reason to gather.
• Project support: Helping pay for improvements, additions, and experiences at the destinations it serves.

Because it is a nonprofit, money raised goes back into the community rather than to private owners. That structure is what allows residents and local businesses to contribute directly to the places they care about.

The Destinations and Initiatives It Supports

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a family-oriented attraction that gives children and adults a hands-on look at farm life, animals, and Kansas history. Foundation support for the Farmstead typically means helping fund enhancements, educational experiences, and community events that keep the site engaging for repeat visitors and first-timers alike.

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

The Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a living collection of gardens, trails, and natural areas. Supporting it can involve funding plantings, garden features, educational programming, and long-term care that keeps the grounds beautiful and accessible through the seasons.

Public Art Projects

Public art is another core focus. The foundation helps bring sculptures, installations, and other artistic works into shared spaces, making art part of everyday life rather than something you only see in a museum. These projects often depend on donations and partnerships to move from idea to installation.

How Community Partnerships and Events Fit In

The foundation's model relies on the community, not just on institutional funding. Local businesses may sponsor an event or a project. Residents may attend a fundraiser, buy a ticket, or make a donation. Civic organizations may partner on a specific initiative.

Events serve two purposes at once: they raise money and they build awareness. A well-attended event introduces new people to the Farmstead, the Arboretum, or a public art effort, and some of those people become ongoing supporters. Over time, this cycle of participation and giving is what sustains projects that a city budget alone might not fully fund.

Practical Ways Residents Can Get Involved

If you want to support this work, you do not need to be a major donor. Here are realistic starting points:

1. Visit the attractions. Attendance and word-of-mouth support matter. Spend a day at the Farmstead or the Arboretum and bring friends or family.
2. Attend a foundation event. Events are the easiest entry point. You get an experience, and your ticket or participation helps fund projects.
3. Donate. Contributions can often be directed toward a specific area, such as the Farmstead, the Arboretum, or public art. Check the foundation's website for current giving options.
4. Volunteer. Nonprofits frequently need help with events, outreach, and administrative tasks. Volunteering is a low-cost way to contribute time and skills.
5. Partner as a business. If you own or manage a local business, sponsorship or in-kind support can align your brand with community assets people genuinely value.
6. Spread the word. Sharing events and projects with neighbors, school groups, or community boards helps the foundation reach people who might want to help.

For current details on events, donation methods, and volunteer needs, go directly to the foundation's website, since programs and opportunities change over time.

Why This Matters for Local Quality of Life

Arts, culture, and recreation are not extras. They shape how a city feels to live in. A children's farmstead gives families a shared destination. Botanical gardens provide green space and seasonal beauty. Public art makes ordinary streets and parks more interesting. When residents and businesses invest in these things through a foundation, they are effectively choosing the kind of community they want.

The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park exists to make that choice easier and more organized. It connects people who care about these places with the projects that need support, and it keeps the benefits local.

A Simple Way to Think About It

If you are trying to understand the foundation in one sentence: it is the community's fundraising and partnership arm for Overland Park's arts, culture, and recreation, with a focus on Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, and public art. You benefit from its work when you visit these places, and you can contribute by attending, donating, volunteering, or partnering. Start with a visit, then decide how you want to take part.

Orangeburg Civic Ballet offers three named scholarships, each tied to a different age or education stage: the Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship for ages 9–13, the Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship for ages 14 through high school, and the Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship for collegiate students pursuing dance studies. All three awards are applied directly to tuition, and the application process includes a dance audition. Applications are posted on the OCB Band (Files) once available.

The Three Scholarships at a Glance

The eligibility lines are set by age band and school stage rather than by years of training or prior company membership, based on the organization's published descriptions. The collegiate scholarship is the only one that specifies a field of study—dance—while the two younger scholarships are described by age range alone.

What the Application Involves

Two elements are confirmed by the organization:

1. A dance audition. The process includes an audition, so applicants should expect to be evaluated on their dancing rather than on a written application alone. The published information does not specify the audition format, date, or what candidates should prepare.
2. An application form. Forms "can be found on the OCB Band (Files) once available," which means the organization distributes them through its Band space rather than as a direct download on the website.

Because the forms are described as available "once available," timing matters. If you are planning around a specific season, check the OCB Band (Files) area before assuming an application window is open.

Who Should Consider Each Award

• Families of dancers ages 9–13 should look at the Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship. This is the youngest eligible group, so it is the entry point for students early in their training.
• Dancers in their teens through high school fall under the Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship. The range runs from age 14 up to high school completion, covering the years when training intensity and tuition costs typically grow.
• College students studying dance are the audience for the Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship. This is the only award that requires an explicit dance-studies focus, so applicants should be enrolled in or pursuing collegiate dance work.

A dancer who ages out of one bracket may become eligible for the next, since the three awards form a progression from childhood through college.

Practical Steps Before Applying

1. Confirm your eligibility bracket using the age and school-stage definitions above, and note that the collegiate award requires dance studies.
2. Locate the application on the OCB Band (Files). If nothing is posted, the window has likely not opened yet.
3. Prepare for the audition. Since the audition is part of the process, plan your training schedule around it; the published material does not list audition dates or requirements, so ask the organization directly if those details are not posted.
4. Plan for tuition credit, not a cash payment. All three scholarships are applied directly to tuition, so treat the award as reducing your balance rather than as funds you receive.

Common Questions

Do all three scholarships require an audition? The organization states that the process includes a dance audition without carving out exceptions, so plan on auditioning for any of the three.

Can one dancer hold more than one scholarship? The published information does not address stacking awards, so this is a question for the organization.

Are scholarships need-based? Nothing in the published material describes an income or financial-need test; eligibility is framed by age and school stage.

How much is each award? The organization does not publish award amounts, so the value of each scholarship is not available from its website.

For current deadlines, audition details, and award amounts, contact Orangeburg Civic Ballet directly or watch the OCB Band (Files) for the forms and any accompanying instructions.

Orangeburg Civic Ballet's 2026–2027 season centers on holiday performances of The Nutcracker and The Polar Express, with three showtimes in December: December 11 at 7:00pm, and December 12 at 11:00am and 3:30pm. Tickets go on sale in early November. If you want first access to online sales, join the company's mailing list, which the organization says provides company and production announcements along with early ticket access. The site does not list prices, venue details, or a direct ticket link, so those specifics will need to come from the company's announcements.

The Season's Main Productions

The company describes the 2026–2027 season as offering "unforgettable performances for audiences of all ages." The holiday program pairs two works:

The site presents these as a single holiday event rather than separate ticketed productions, so plan for one outing that includes both works unless the company announces otherwise.

When and How to Get Tickets

• Sale window: Tickets go on sale in early November. The site does not give an exact date.
• Early access: Joining the mailing list is described as the way to receive production announcements and first access to online sales.
• Current status: The events section shows "No events at the moment," which reflects the site's live calendar rather than the December schedule. Check back closer to November for the ticket listing.

Beyond the Stage: Company, Scholarships, and Outreach

The season also includes the newly announced 2026–2027 company members, whom the organization describes as dancers carrying forward its decades-long tradition. Three scholarships are available, all applied directly to tuition and each requiring a dance audition:

• Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship — ages 9–13
• Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship — ages 14 through high school
• Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship — collegiate students pursuing dance studies

Applications are posted on the OCB Band (Files) when available. The company also runs educational outreach, including school performances, for students across the region.

Practical Notes for Planning

• The site does not state a venue, ticket prices, or seating details; confirm these through the mailing list or the company's announcements before making travel plans.
• December 12 has two showtimes, so families can choose a morning or afternoon slot.
• For anyone interested in dancing rather than watching, the scholarship track is the relevant entry point, and it involves an audition rather than an application alone.

For the most current information, the company's mailing list and its announcements page are the sources it points to for both schedule and sales updates.

Orangeburg Civic Ballet (OCB) is a dance company based in Orangeburg that has brought dance to the community for more than 30 years. Its website serves as the public hub for its performance season, company roster, scholarship program, educational outreach, and donor support. If you are looking for season dates, ticket information, scholarship eligibility, or ways to support the company, the site is the place to start.

What the Organization Does

The site describes OCB's mission as enriching the community "with creativity, passion, and purpose" through dance. Its work falls into three visible areas:

• Performances — an annual season of productions for audiences of all ages, including holiday performances.
• Educational outreach — programs that share dance with students across the region, including school performances.
• Student support — scholarships applied directly to tuition, awarded through an application and dance audition process.

Season and Performance Information

The site highlights the 2026–2027 season and introduces the company members for that season. For the current holiday programming, it lists performances of The Nutcracker and The Polar Express on:

According to the site, tickets go on sale in early November, and joining the mailing list provides production announcements and first access to online sales. Note that the events section itself displays "No events at the moment," so the holiday dates above come from the site's descriptive text rather than a live event listing—confirm details before making plans.

Scholarships

OCB offers three scholarships, all applied directly to tuition and requiring a dance audition:

• Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship — ages 9–13
• Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship — ages 14 through high school
• Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship — collegiate students pursuing dance studies

The site states that applications can be found on the OCB Band (Files) once available, so availability depends on that posting.

Supporting the Company

The site frames support as sustaining productions, funding scholarships, and keeping ballet present in the community. A "Support OCB" path is offered for those who want to contribute, and the site lists proud sponsors. Specific giving levels, ticket prices, and payment details are not provided in the available site content, so check the site directly for current terms.

Who the Site Is For

• Audiences seeking season and holiday performance dates and ticket timing.
• Dancers and families interested in company membership or scholarship applications.
• Schools and community groups exploring educational outreach and school performances.
• Donors and sponsors looking for ways to support the arts in Orangeburg.

For the most current dates, ticket links, and application availability, use the site's mailing list and its season and scholarship pages, since some listings may not yet be populated.