Auction dates: Friday, November 15 through Friday, December 6

Marblehead, MA -- Finish your holiday shopping early this year and support dance and the arts! The North Shore Civic Ballet (NSCB), a nonprofit dance company based in Marblehead, Massachusetts, kicks off its annual holiday online auction on Friday, November 15.

The NSCB's auction website page, www.biddingforgood.com/ballet, opens for bids on Friday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. and continues through Friday, December 6, closing at 6:00 p.m. The auction's proceeds provide dancers with the resources and training they need to study ballet in the North Shore region.

"The annual holiday auction raises much needed funds for scholarships, new choreography, equipment, costuming and other resources that aspiring dancers of all ages in the region require to study ballet. Businesses, as well as patrons, benefit from participating in the auction because people have an opportunity to try restaurants, hotels, and other experiences they might never have tried," explained Judy Moynihan, member, NSCB board of trustees.

Bidders from across the country will find a range of items to purchase. Gift certificates and gift cards are available from retail shops, including Bus Stop, F.L. Woods Nautical Merchants, and MacRae’s, along with restaurants such as Spitfire Tacos, Fen Yang House, Terry’s Ice Cream, The Muffin Shop and Starbucks. Other opportunities include bidding on gift certificates for a two night weekend stay at Chestnut Sweet, a massage by Kelley Newton, and a Survival by Design Total Sassy Pack of greeting cards and magnets.

"With the public's support and contributions to the holiday auction, we can help aspiring dancers' dreams come true. Our online auction is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bidders can access the online auction from any location worldwide. People can still get involved by volunteering with the ballet company, asking merchants to donate a gift certificate or gift card for the auction, purchasing a gift card or gift certificate from a merchant, or donating an unused gift certificate or gift card for the auction," said Paula K. Shiff, Artistic Director, NSCB.

Financial contributions are also welcome and may be made directly to the ballet company. The NCSB is a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt organization and all contributions are tax-deductible as permissible by law.

Donations of gift cards or gift certificates may be dropped off at the NSCB's home at the Marblehead School of Ballet, 115 Pleasant Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts, or call 781-631-6262 to schedule a pick-up. For more information about the North Shore Civic Ballet, the auction, and volunteer opportunities, call 781-631-6262 or visit the organization's website http://marbleheadschoolofballet.com/the-company/ and on social media at Facebook http://on.fb.me/1wh3fnp, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marblehead_school_of_ballet/  and X (Twitter) https://twitter.com/MSB_ballet.