“The financially strapped Oakland Ballet is breathing a little easier this week after the receipt of a major grant that, if matched, could put the company close to the $500,000 make-or-break goal it set for itself earlier this month. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has approved a $200,000 matching grant to help the company meet its goal by May 31. Because of declining ticket sales and $200,000 in debts, the company suspended its fall 2004 season and announced that if it couldn’t raise $500,000, it would go out of business.”