20 replies to this topic

[fille'smom]

I read on another site that Volochkova has been reinstated at the Bolshoi! Could this be true or is it a rumor?

[Alexandra]

I haven't heard anything -- I'm sure Marc will check this for us.  Thanks for the alert!  (and for giving us a model of how to post a rumor!!)

[Ari]

Fille'smom, there have been a number of threads about this subject.  The latest news (click here) is that Russia's Ministry of Labor has ruled that the Bolshoi's firing was illegal.  However, it is not at all clear that this means that Volochkova will rejoin the company.  See Alexandra's post towards the end of this thread.

[Alexandra]

Ah, I thought there was a NEW rumor.

[vagansmom]

Sigh Ms. Volochkova is indeed noble:

Quote

she told Russia's ORT television Monday. "And the matter here is not the money. ... I have already decided that if I win the suit, if I win a large amount of money I am going to seek, it will go straight to charity."

[Mme. Hermine]

after expenses?  

[Alexandra]

There is indeed Breaking News!

Act II: Labor Ministry says Bolshoi must reinstate dismissed dancer

Quote

Labor officials on Tuesday ordered the Bolshoi Theater to reinstate Volochkova, who was fired two weeks ago amid allegations from other dancers that she was too heavy to lift.

The Labor Ministry ruled her dismissal violated labor law, saying she must be rehired by Oct. 6 and given back wages, said Andrei Pryanishnikov, a spokesman for Labor Minister Alexander Pochinok.

Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova said it was too early to comment on how the Bolshoi would react to the decision. Pryanishnikov insisted the Bolshoi has no choice but to comply.

....

The Russian press denigrated her with headlines such as "Not even bears could hold her" and discussed her ability as more suitable for pop-ballet performances than the graceful Russian tradition associated with greats such as Maya Plisetskaya and others.

I'd missed the "not even bears could hold her."  Why stop at suing the theater?

[Ari]

Alexandra, I believe this is the same news that was released a couple of days ago, but many papers and other news organizations are just getting round to printing/running it.  There appears to be a disagreement as to whether the Bolshoi has to comply with the Ministry's decision.  Stay tuned, this show is far from over.

[Mikhail]

The case “Volochkova vs. Bolshoi” will be started in a court in Moscow on Monday, Oct. 27. I bet Anastasia will win. What will she do then, that is the question?

Just to remind. After the known scandal with Rozhdestvensky three years ago the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet Alexei Fadeechev was fired. He won the trial but resigned himself immediately instead of accepting back his former position.

[LMCtech]

So has anything been heard?

[Marc Haegeman]

The trial has been postponed until November 4th, as last Monday the Bolshoi Theatre was not represented in court.

[Mikhail]

Today it was postponed again until November 17 - for the same reason.

[LMCtech]

Hmm...is this a legal tactic ob the Bolshoi's part?

[Marc Haegeman]

Mikhail was quite right: Volochkova did win (see the link posted by Ari Volochkova/Bolshoi)