Savannah Ballet Theatre & School of Dance recently announced the appointment of Lesley Francis Public Relations (LFPR) to handle its public relations and marketing programs. Lesley Francis and her team are working closely with the Savannah Ballet staff and will be responsible for media and community relations, copy writing and other marketing initiatives.

Savannah Ballet Theatre, Savannah’s largest nonprofit dance company will soon celebrate 21 years of great productions, community outreach efforts, educational events and excellent dance opportunities. Every year, SBT company stages three exciting productions and train in a professional setting with talented teachers and innovative choreographers. Each December, SBT’s company produces the only professional, local Nutcracker in Savannah. The spring provides dancers the chance to perform in original, exciting productions, such as “The Wizard of Oz,” which is coming up March 23, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Sleepy Hollow.” Company dancers, who come from around the nation to train and dance at SBT, are also given the opportunity to dance with other local nonprofits. In addition to the company, Savannah Ballet Theatre offers a premiere full-service studio and a wide array of classes for ages 2½ through adult.

Lesley Francis has over thirty years’ experience in public relations. British-born Lesley founded her first agency in London, England in 1998, and over nine years she grew it into the 14^th-largest in the UK. After selling her business to a global media group in 2007, she ran their global PR division for two years until relocating to Savannah, Georgia, where she became a naturalized American citizen. Francis set up LFPR in 2011, and the agency has grown every year through its “can-do” attitude and the team’s ability to design and execute integrated campaigns that target the right audiences and key influencers. This approach provides LFPR’s clients with a solid and measurable return on investment.

“Community outreach and education is a big part of what we do,” said Abby McCuen, education and advancement director at Savannah Ballet. “We’re so excited to bring LFPR on board to help us share our performance art with more area residents and visitors. We’re growing steadily, and an increased profile is just what we need to help continue that trend.”