MILWAUKEE – September 16, 2008 – Milwaukee Ballet has hired Lori Flanigan as Education Assistant, Britany Karger as Corporate and Donor Relations Manager, Rebecca Rinn as Executive Assistant and Bookkeeper, and Leslie Rivers as Marketing Associate.

“We are thrilled to add these talented, experienced individuals to Milwaukee Ballet’s team,” said Dennis Buehler, Executive Director of Milwaukee Ballet.  “As the Ballet moves into the upcoming season and our 40th season next year, we continue to strengthen our staff resources to better support our strategic initiatives.”

Lori Flanigan steps into her newly formed position as Education Assistant complementing her teaching work as an instructor with Milwaukee Ballet by joining the Education Department.  Britany Karger, Corporate and Donor Relations Manager, joins the development office from Fort Worth, Texas, where she has worked for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and most recently worked in the development office of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Executive Assistant and Bookkeeper Rebecca Rinn returns to Milwaukee Ballet where she previously attended Milwaukee Ballet School for several years, including the Summer Intensive program and performing in The Nutcracker. Leslie Rivers joins Milwaukee Ballet as Marketing Associate.  Most recently, Rivers worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater where she spent time in both the marketing and development offices.

Milwaukee Ballet

Founded in 1970, Milwaukee Ballet strives to inspire its audiences to think within and beyond traditional ballet through the presentation of quality performances and the implementation of educational opportunities.  Milwaukee Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet School are recognized among the top companies in the nation.  With an annual operating budget of more than $5 million, Milwaukee Ballet presents more than 40 performances to more than 50,000 people each year.  Its resident company includes 25 professional dancers along with 18 trainees in its Nancy Einhorn Milwaukee Ballet II program and is one of the few dance companies in the country to maintain its own symphony orchestra.  Milwaukee Ballet School, the official school of the Ballet, has an enrollment of nearly 900 students at three locations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Ballet kicks off the 2008-09 season in October with Tchaikovsky’s magical fairytale classic The Sleeping Beauty, performing October 23-36, 2008 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Other season shows and performance dates are as follows: The Nutcracker (December 12-28, 2008), Fancy Free (February 19-22, 2009), Genesis: Choreography for the Next Generation (March 26-29, 2009), and Live and Kicking: International Choreographers Series (May 14-17, 2009). For information about becoming a Milwaukee Ballet subscriber or to purchase tickets, call (414) 902-2103 or visit www.milwaukeeballet.org.