Recognizing the cultural and educational contributions of American Ballet Theatre throughout its 65 years of service as "America's National Ballet Company".

Whereas American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is recognized as one of the world’s great dance companies;

Whereas ABT is dedicated to bringing dance to America and American dance to the world;

Whereas over its 65-year history, ABT has appeared in all 50 States of the United States, in a total of 126 cities, and has performed for more than 600,000 people annually;

Whereas ABT has performed in 42 countries as perhaps the most representative American ballet company, with many of those engagements sponsored by the Department of State;

Whereas ABT has been home to the world’s most accomplished dancers and has commissioned works by all of the great choreographic geniuses of the 20th century;

Whereas Dwight D. Eisenhower recognized ABT’s ability to convey through the medium of ballet some measure of understanding of America’s cultural environment and inspiration;

Whereas over the years ABT has performed repeatedly at the White House, most recently in December 2005;

Whereas ABT is committed to bringing dance to a broad audience and provides exposure to dance to more than 20,000 underprivileged children and their families each year;

Whereas ABT's award-winning Make a Ballet program and its other outreach initiatives help to meet the need for arts education in underserved schools and communities;

Whereas ABT’s Studio Company brings world class ballet to smaller communities like Rochester, New York; Stamford, Connecticut; Sanibel, Florida; South Hadley, Massachusetts; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and

Whereas The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT and the ABT’s other artistic development initiatives provide the highest quality training consistent with the professional standards of ABT: Now, therefore, be it