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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.

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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 The LDS is not the largest contributor to the company; the sponsorship withdrawn was for a single performance of the Nutcracker.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.

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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:

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Guest whynot

From what i understand the company needs better public interest, the main source of financial concerns is that the shows are just not selling as well. The other big thing is the contracts being given to alot of the dancers coming into the company this year are supplemental artist contracts. Though I do realize that this is not the only company doing this.

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