PUBLISHED IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE SEPTEMBER 16, 2015

The Indiana Ballet Theatre will be hosting a fundraiser for the Classic Arts Centre construction at St. Elijah Serbian American Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 20.

English Tea is hosted by SIP Coffee House. Tiffany’s Tea Room will be catering the event and will be opening a future location in the Classical Arts Centre.

Catered dishes for the English Tea event include “chardonnay chicken and orange cranberry sauce, sweet tarts and sweet cream,” according to Gloria Tuohy, founder and artistic director of Indiana Ballet Theater.

Tuohy is excited for the English Tea fundraiser as a capital campaign to fund the development of the Classic Arts Centre. “It’s the beginning of getting this building done because we want to share our art with the community at large,” said Tuohy.

The Indiana Ballet Theatre has been northwest Indiana’s best-kept secret for 36 years now. It is the only dance company in northwest Indiana and brings full-length ballets to local residents with shows like “Thumbelina,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Swan Lake,” “Nutcracker,” “Coppelia,” “Cinderella,” “Firebird,” “Gaite Parisiane” and “Peter Pan.”

“We’ve been in the community for 36 years and doing Star Plaza shows like ‘Nutcracker’ and other ballets. We would like to reach out to the community and let people know that we are here and gain more of a following,” said Tuohy.

The Indiana Ballet Theatre also hopes to raise more awareness of their impact in the community with the English Tea fundraiser.

“People have to know who we are and what works we do. We want to get more people aware of what we have been doing for northwest Indiana. Many of our students go on to study dance further and lead careers in dance,” said Tuohy.

“It’s not about competition, it’s a real art form. We teach all ballet and modern dance to students. The Classical Arts Centre, which we hope to complete, brings arts to the community.”

At the English Tea fundraiser, guests can expect a 20-minute performance exampling some of the repertoire that the Indiana Ballet Theatre will be putting on stage this season.

Tickets to the English Tea Fundraiser are $35 for adults and $15 for children (high school and under). Parking at St. Elijah Serbian American Hall is free.

Guests can purchase tickets in person at SIP Coffee House in Crown Point and Dance Stuf etc. in Merrillville.

Beth Casey is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.

English Tea

Where: St. Elijah Serbian American Hall, 8700 Taft Street, Merrillville

When: 1-4 p.m. Sept. 20

Information: 219-755-4444 or ibtnw.org