9 replies to this topic

[BarreTalk]

My dance teacher just returned from Christmas break in Utah with a report that Ballet West just lost all underwriting by the LDS (Mormon) church.  She says that previously, the church was the biggest single contributor.  The cause for the withdrawal of support is supposedly that dancers (read "men") in tights goes against the church's "family values".

If anyone can confirm or deny this rumor, it would be appreciated.

[Mel Johnson]

Seems jolly unlikely.

[carbro]

Men in tights?    When did that happen?

[Arak]

Well, if this bothered them, why would they give their support in the first place? It's not like men in tights is a new development. I don't buy it.

[Leigh Witchel]

I had spoken with the management of Ballet West regarding this situation when it happened.  Something like this happened that has been exaggerated.  

The objection to tights was in fact the cause of the problem; I'm not sure the objection was raised institutionally by the church, the objections did raise confusion at the company as to their origin and purpose.  The LDS is not the largest contributor to the company; the sponsorship withdrawn was for a single performance of the Nutcracker.  It either happened this winter or last.  I'm recounting the facts as I recall them, and I may have some of them wrong, but this is what I recall.

[BarreTalk]

Leigh Witchel, on Jan 10 2004, 07:51 AM, said:

I had spoken with the management of Ballet West regarding this situation when it happened...

The objection to tights was in fact the cause of the problem; I'm not sure the objection was raised institutionally by the church, the objections did raise confusion at the company as to their origin and purpose.

Leigh, it's great you went straight to the source for rumor control.

I'm sure someone's attitude towards tights causing a loss of sponsorship could raise confusion within the company.  As someone else wrote, it's not like ballet tights are something new and shocking.  Whether an expression of institutional disapproval, or just the view of a few individuals in power, it still indicates another expression of the neo-puritanism that seems to be infecting the country.   :green:

[Leigh Witchel]

BarreTalk - there is at least a possibility the issue of tights was the stated reason and what had to be dealt with, but the actual problem may have been something else.

No matter what, it's a shame it happened, but I don't think the monetary loss was devastating.

[emhbunhead]

LDS also doesnt advocate the women showing their shoulders, and doing any form of work on sundays... I can imagine how the loss of funding would affect the company, esp with the majority of the state of Utah (ie, the audience) being LDS/Mormon...

[Mel Johnson]

OK, this is starting to cross over that dangerous line from rumor, which we're not crazy about anyway, to observations on religion.  Not all Mormons are conservative, just as not all Episcopalians are liberal.  Thread closed.