Proposed budget cuts put Santa Clara Ballet in danger

(Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

(SANTA CLARA, Calif.) The City of Santa Clara is suggesting cutting the $12- to $14-million budget deficit for the upcoming year by drastically trimming funding to a popular art program, KPIX 5 reported.

The proposal will eliminate theater performances but keeps the rehearsals and theater classes.

“There is no such thing as a performance program without performances. This cut amounts to canceling the program,” said Annabel Gong, a former participant at the Roberta Jones Junior Theater, per the news outlet.

Since 1968, RJJT has been putting on shows and with the help of city grants, the programs are affordable and available to everyone.

“It’s devastating that 50 years of a program that has done so much good for the community can be gone overnight,” show director Katie Ratermann told KPIX5.

The budget cuts could also hurt the Santa Clara Ballet, which the city pays for the ballet’s venue costs at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

Former students and parents of the RJJT program have started a grassroots initiative to raise awareness about the possible cuts and have attended budget study sessions.

“I think we’re gonna save it. I hope we’re gonna save it, I want to save — I’ll fight tooth and nail to save it,” said Lisa Gillmor, Mayor of Santa Clara, per the news outlet.

City councilmembers will vote on the final budget on June 22.

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