John Turchon, marketing director of the Texas Ballet Theater, says that the company will go ahead with its season-opening gala this Friday, Sept. 12 in Dallas at the Majestic Theatre. The TBT was facing a financial deadline with the gala, needing $500,000 in cash to pay pressing bills — while also raising a total of $2 million in both cash and pledges by mid-September to proceed with the rest of its season.

The full $500,000 has not yet been raised, said Turchon, “but we’re close. So it’s been decided to go ahead with the gala.” He estimated that more than half of the needed $2 million in cash and pledges has been raised so far.

In addition to ongoing, behind-the-scenes fundraising efforts by the management and the board, the ballet dancers held a sale over the weekend at the TBT studios. The dance troupe has also scheduled another fundraising event, Rock the Ballet, to be held Sept. 19 at the Embargo bar in downtown Fort Worth. Three bands — Telegraph Canyon, February Chorus and the Josh Knight Band — are donating their performances that evening, which will include dinner and dancing for $25.

Margo McCann, interim managing director, said that there’s also a Dallas-based fundraiser in the works — a silent auction during a champagne bunch at the Mansion on Turtle Creek Sept. 21.