Why Sponsor CalBal?
When you sponsor CalBal, you become a patron of the arts and help us advance important values. Like many cultural and arts organizations, CalBal (and our parent organization Pacific Swing Dance Foundation [PSDF]) relies on the generosity of patrons to help fund our efforts and make them accessible to all.
This year it is especially important for us to raise funds for CalBal and PSDF. Not only has CalBal been without income for three years, for 2023 we've deliberately lowered our maximum attendance while also responding to new financial risks.
Despite this, CalBal remains committed to advancing values like diversity and inclusion (through our scholarship and teacher mentorship programs) and cultural growth (through our ambitious music and competition programs).
If you're able, please help us ensure CalBal can weather 2023 and be strong for 2024—our ten-year anniversary!
Gold Sponsor Tier ($500–$999)
Your financial help makes a huge difference!
As a Gold-tier sponsor, you have the option to
Sponsor a song!
You can also direct your contribution toward scholarships, teacher mentorships, or operations (which is what keeps the lights on). Whatever you choose to donate, your money will help CalBal be resilient in 2023 and go into 2024 strong.
Sponsoring a song means funding a new composition, transcription, or arrangement by one of our musicians that will debut at CalBal 2023. You money helps us pay one of our musicians to compose, arrange, or transcribe a song and also helps us pay for our overall music program. The song you sponsor might be a classic recording that has never been transcribed, or a new composition or arrangement that one of our musicians wants to work on. By sponsoring a song, your help us bring unique, new music to CalBal, and you contribute to the overall songbook available to the larger swing scene.
For CalBal 2023, Jonathan Stout will continue his tradition of providing six new songs for our Open Classic finals spotlights. The top Balboa competitors in the world will each be challenged to dance to a song no one has ever heard before. We're also working with our other 2023 bandleaders to offer more options. Song sponsors will choose a song from our final list (the earlier you sponsor, the more choices you'll have) and to receive recognition when that song is debuted at the event.
Gold Tier Sponsor Rewards
- Donation directed to program area of your choice
- Option to have your name and personalized message displayed and announced during an evening dance
- 2 invitations to Thursday night welcome dance (with live music!) and special patron pre-party
- 5-9 private lesson raffle tickets
- PSDF enamel patron pin
- Option to receive acknowledgement on our website and at the live event
Your donations are tax deductible. California Balboa Classic is operated by Pacific Swing Dance Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Rewards: more info
Song Sponsor Message
When you sponsor a song, you have the option both to have a your name and a message displayed during the night your song is played and also read aloud when your song is announces.
Your message can be personal (e.g., a dedication to a loved one) or commercial (e.g., advertising a swing dance event or a personal business). The message should be brief and adhere to CalBal’s safety and inclusion policies.
Band sponsor message
When you sponsor a band, you have the option to have a your name and a message displayed during the night your band plays. Your message can be personal (e.g., a dedication to a loved one) or commercial (e.g., advertising a swing dance event or a personal business).
Invitation to welcome dance and pre-party
Invitation to Thursday night welcome dance (with live music!) and special patron pre-party: Silver-level patrons and up ($250) will receive free entry to the Thursday night welcome dance at LindyGroove as well as an invitation to our pre-party cocktail reception before the dance. Gold-level patrons and up ($500) may also bring a guest to both the dance and pre-party. The welcome dance and pre-party both occur Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Pasadena Masonic Temple. The pre-party runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and the dance runs from 9:00 p.m. until midnight.
Private lesson raffle tickets
For every $100 you donate, you get 1 raffle ticket entered to win a private lesson with a CalBal teacher or musician of your choice. CalBal will draw 3 raffle winners, one each on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Raffle winners can take their lesson during the CalBal 2023 weekend or schedule a virtual lesson to occur within 30 days of CalBal 2023. Raffle winners can bring a partner to the lesson if desired. Raffle winners also may transfer the private lesson to another person of their choosing (including one of the scholarship recipients if desired). Note that only one win per entrant is allowed.
PSDF enamel patron pin
The PDSF enamel patrons are a reward for everyone who donates $50 or more (Iron level and up). Please pick up your pin at the event if possible because it is very expensive to ship the pins. Shipping is available if needed for Bronze patrons and up ($100+ donation).
Acknowledgments
If you choose to tell us "How would you like to be acknowledged?" we'll add you to our CalBal 2023 sponsors page and we'll add your name to our sponsorship wall at the live event. You may also choose to remain anonymous.