Stecyk

That's not entirely true, they only terminated his contract when the incontravertible video footage came out. Till that point LVMH and Arnault were standing by Galliano, their major star and cash cow, as being the victim of unsubstantiated slander and rumours. Indeed Galliano was launching a libel action against the victims of one his tirades, as there was only witness statements as to what had gone on that first time.

First, I deliberately made no mention of any specific actors. Given that this stuff might be still be unsettled and before the courts, I'd like to avoid any specific references. Second, if what you say is true, then you have served only to prove my points--that is, words and media combined can be lethal. Without a media recording, it was a he said, she said argument. The comments themselves were still toxic and reprehensible, but in doubt to many. Once the doubt was removed, the damage to all was done. And last, this a minor point, please, if you emphasize part of my quote when quoting me, say so. Otherwise, it appears as though I had emphasized something, when I hadn't.

I don't think anything an individual dancer posts or says would have a significant influence on whether audience members continuing going to the ballet.

Without meaning to be mean, do you think what a fashion designer is allegedly to have said while in an inebriated state would affect what fashioniestas wear?

As we have seen, a few misplaced evil comments can ruin a person, his reputation, and his work. Luckily, the team--in this case a company--simply terminated him.

Words combined with media are powerful.

Devin Alberda blogs about his tweets. http://goldenperseidshowers.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-can-tweet-bad-all-by-myself.html

I read his blog post. Although I found it interesting, I also found that I disagreed with some of his comments.

I Can Tweet Bad All By Myself by Devin Alberda

I’ve never revealed proprietary information or tweeted about another dancer's injury. I recognize the need to protect the company’s interests as well as its employees, but a restrictive online social networking policy would limit the access dancers would be able to allow the public to their professional lives.

Protecting the company's interests is certainly a subjective criteria. Indeed, many would simply apply the rule our mothers' taught us, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Others might be more liberal as to what is acceptable or permissible. Me, I'd probably ask myself: Does this tweet or blog entry further the goals or aspirations of the company?

I’m not a star, I don’t go on gigs, nor do I have a public image to maintain. I revel in irreverence, and yes, perhaps making a joke about my boss’ DWI arrest is pushing it.

So which is it? Is it protecting the company's interests or pushing it too far?

Of course starting a thoughtful conversation on Twitter is difficult, all the more so with my own hyperbolic tendencies.

But if you always protecting the company's interests, then hyperbolic tendencies ought not matter.

I don’t think anyone should be worried about my Twitter feed. I definitely consider the ramifications of certain comments, but Sandra Bernhard and Richard Pryor are two of my personal heroes and as a result I may locate the line separating tastefulness and distastefulness a little differently than many people in the dance world do.

Of course, there's a difference between Sandra Bernhard and Richard Pryor and Devin Alberda. The former were soloists, free to capture the imagination or scorn of their fans without repercussion to others on the team. The latter is a part of a larger and more important whole. What he does might influence how others perceive not only him but his company as well.

I am not offended by Alberda's comments. However, if I were part of his company, I am not so sure I would be as neutral. Especially in these challenging economic times, I would want everyone doing their reasoanable best to make the company better. As with any organization, there will always be something, something negative or unpleasant that needs to be addressed. Those issues, regardless of whether they are in the public domain, are likely better addressed behind closed doors where frank, honest, and hard discussions can take place without adding further injury to the company.

Some things just do not "pay for themselves", but it does not make them any less "valueable" to those who benefit from them, and actually to the whole society.

For example: Public transportation, The Arts, Children.

It's unfortunate that we citizens do not or unable to support the arts with more passion, interest, and funding.

I suspect that if Canadian National Ballet were able to attract a larger audience, requiring more showings, then each show might be profitable. But with so much preparation and fixed costs going into each production and only a few showings, it's tough to make the numbers work.

With the economy in a funk, it is certainly a challenging time for artists.

Balancing the books a delicate act for ballet

Please see link above for complete article. Below is an excerpt.

When ballet lovers take their seats on Thursday night for the opening of Onegin, they probably don’t realize that it’s a money-loser.

“Every time we do a show, we lose money,” said Kevin Garland, executive director of the National Ballet of Canada. “Every show costs about twice as much as it brings in revenue.”

Box office sales bring in about 45 per cent of revenues — considered a strong percentage for arts organizations — and the rest is split between private donations and government grants.

Please, report back if you spot Hayna Gutierrez in any of the leads...

I will be pleased to comment. I am sure to enjoy the ballet. In fact, there are two ballets that evening.

Serenade & Vigil of Angels

Two encore presentations grace the Alberta Ballet stage in what Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maître is calling "an evening of personal favourites". This program will feature one of ballet's greatest 20th century masterpieces, George Balanchine’s exquisite Serenade, the legendary choreographer's deeply moving hommage to his most beloved composer, Tchaikovsky and Jean Grand-Maître’s meditative explorations on life and death, Vigil of Angels. Join us for this soothing and spiritual journey filled with soaring angels of beauty. Our olympian dancers' poetic athleticism will inspire us to remember all that is good in life.

@ Anthony_NYC: Thank you for clarifying the New York deadpan humor. It escaped me, so I am glad you added your comment.

@ carbro: I am positive that I will enjoy the performance. I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge and understanding.

Thank you everyone for your sharing your enthusiasm and comments.

This is an interesting article from the NY Times on the topic at issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/business/09facebook.html

Indeed it is. There are a few excerpts that caught my attention.

Company Accused of Firing Over Facebook Post

That act gives workers a federally protected right to form unions, and it prohibits employers from punishing workers — whether union or nonunion — for discussing working conditions or unionization. The labor board said the company’s Facebook rule was “overly broad” and improperly limited employees’ rights to discuss working conditions among themselves.

Working conditions or unionization are allowed.

An administrative law judge is scheduled to begin hearing the case on Jan. 25. Marshall B. Babson, a member of the National Labor Relations Board in the 1980s, said a broad company rule that says one cannot make disparaging comments about supervisors is clearly illegal under labor law. But he said an employee’s criticizing a company or supervisor on Facebook was not necessarily protected activity.

But employees might cross the line into unprotected territory if they disparage supervisors over something unrelated to work — for instance, a supervisor’s sexual performance — or if their statements are disloyal.

Drinking after-hours is unrelated to work.

I'd still err on the side of caution. This article seems to suggest that law is somewhat murky. I know many companies, however, have restrictive policies. Some even fire employees if they discuss their wages. And according to this article, you are allowed to discuss wages.

Why would NYCB want to censor Alberda's comments? Moreover, I don't think it would be legal for NYCB to censor Twitter comments, including the negative comments about Peter Martins. Seems like NYCB wants to be on the cutting edge by using social media, but doesn't want to accept the bad with the good. Alberda must have figured out by now that making negative comments about his employer on a publicly available Twitter account is not going to help his career.

Employers can and do restrict what employees do and say on their personal time.

They are not censoring a dancer. The dancer's right to free speech is still available, just not as a dancer working for that company. In other words, the company won't prohibit a dancer from voicing his or her opinion. But the company will prohibit employing a dancer who is making disparaging remarks or perceived to be harming the company. This practice is quite common for most traditional companies where employees sit in a cubicle all day long.

At many companies, employees are prohibited from talking to the press. That's the role of public relations companies.

And if you consider sports, look at what happens to Mark Cuban when he speaks his mind.

Going back to restrictions in the article, they don't seem overly onerous.

The Wall Street Journal reported that

According to a draft of the policy obtained by the Journal, dancers would be banned from disclosing another dancer's injury or illness and be required to specify their comments aren't company sanctioned.

Those rules seem fair.

With regard to Alberda learning that his actions are not going to help his career, it's a painful lesson to learn. Not only has he harmed his career with his current company, but he has also harmed his potential career with others. Others will usually shy away from controversial people, for they consume too much scarce energy.

One of the disadvantages of being on a team--whether in a traditional corporation, a sports franchise, or a ballet company--is that you sometimes have to suppress your opinions. When you fly solo, you are free to speak your mind.

Stecyk, I think Serenade has probably had as much impact on balletgoers as Swan Lake; it's plotless, of course, so this is a different discussion, but the beauty and sculptural nobility of the images, the endless opportunities for ravishing dancing, the tableaux (the opening one alone!), the divine score, the imagination of a young genius which is so apparent here--all these have spoken eloquently for years.

<snip>

It's been mentioned before in this thread that you should enjoy the ballet on YOUR own terms, as something you experience individually and personally, and I think that is essential. It's even okay if you don't think it's a 'masterpiece', lol, or if you 'don't go for splendor'--but I certainly hope you will.

jsmu, thank you for your thoughtful and eloquent post. I will be watching the imagery, not trying to determine any plot or storyline.

I am looking forward to the experience, for I know it's going to be a great introduction to a new art form. Again, thank you for your post.

NYC Ballet considers social media guidelines

(excerpt)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Ballet wants to develop social media guidelines for all its artistic and administrative employees.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the company is negotiating a social media policy as part of contract negotiations with the dancer's union, the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Article should be available without subscription as it points to the following site:

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/nyc-ballet-considers-social-media-guidelines/70010ea4cb93436f9ff52c91832f0c5f

If unavailable, use your favorite search engine for NYC Ballet Social Media.

Edit: Moderators, this is likely in the wrong section. Feel free to move to "links."

I remember once exiting the First Ring of the State Theater after a particularly beautiful matinee performance of Serenade. Two elderly women, with their New York accents, were walking next to me. "Whatja think?" asked one. The other one shrugged: "I guess it was OK, if you go for splendor."

I suppose we are all selective. We focus on that which we deem important or beautiful and disregard the rest.

Do you know what Stecyk, I really think if you go in with these thoughts you're asking for trouble. I mean, what if you hate it, Balanchine didn't choreograph Serendae thinking that it would be a signature piece, or masterpiece or that it would still be performed some seventy years later.

I am not at all worried. I am predisposed to like it. I will be looking for reasons to enjoy the ballet, not to see whether it measures up to my standards of entertainment.

As I mentioned in my opening post, I enjoy photography. Although not a good photographer myself, after several years of exposure (pun intended), I have developed my own tastes. I know why a photograph, technically, usually appeals to me or doesn't. As we experience new art forms, it takes a while to develop an appreciation.

With this thread, I am hoping to jump start my education. Of course, I will allow the experience to sink in. However, if I know what I should be watching for, then my appreciation of this art form will be even stronger.

I believe the Alberta Ballet has a strong reputation. So, from my viewpoint, the challenge is on me to find the beauty and enjoyment in the ballet.

I am aware, of course, that if expectations are too high, there is no where to go but down. I understand that. So I don't have any expectations to be awed or entertained. Instead, I expect to view an artform and to challenge myself to learn and appreciate it. Like most everything that is worthwhile, learning and appreciating will take time and effort. The good news is that I expect it to be an enjoyable journey.

vipa, I will most certainly come back and provide my thoughts. I am really looking forward to the ballet. As with anything new, it takes a while to develop an understanding and critical eye. Obviously, I don't possess sufficient background to fully appreciate the ballet. Even so, I am sure that I will enjoy the experience.

Lucky you. Getting to see the entire Serenade. Youtube has portions of it available for viewing. I don't know how familiar you are with Tschaikovsky's Serenade for Strings but if you don't know it, I would suggest trying to get familiar with it. Balanchine is known for making the music visible. Whenever I hear the opening strains of the music on the radio I have to hold up my right hand as if sheilding my eyes from the sun. If that makes no sense now, it will after you see the performance.

Thank you for your reply Helene. I had not realized that this ballet is a signature piece. I am positive that it will be a visual feast.

Again, thank you for your reply.

The first thing I would suggest, if it's still an option, is to get yourself a balcony seat. You'll want an overhead view because the floor patterns in this ballet are something else, like looking into a kaleidoscope.

When I called in to purchase the tickets, I mentioned that I was unfamiliar with the ballet and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Because I called late into the season, about two weeks prior to the show, and wanted one of the better locations, I beleive my choices were somewhat limited. I don't recall if the balcony seats were still available. Perhaps they were. As I recall, I am off to the side in a raised portion. In any event, I am sure that I'll enjoy the performance.

This post was originally posted at Ballet Talk for Dancers.

Being a newcomer to the world of ballet, what should I look for in Alberta Ballet's upcoming performance of George Balanchine's Serenade? Or, put differently, as a newcomer, how can I derive the most benefit from this performance?

I know to most of you, my question seems odd or, perhaps, obvious. If you were advising someone like me, who has no background in dance, what would you say is important?

Perhaps given my question, you are curious as to why I am even bothering to attend. One of my passions is photography, and having seen many beautiful photographs of dancers, I am attracted by the aesthetics. In past threads, I have highlighted some of Joe McNally's photographs of dancers. Through his photography, he captures a certain majesty and purity. I am not sure exactly how to describe his photographs or why I like them, but I do.

And having been following this forum for a while, I am even more intrigued. I am impressed by the passion, commitment, and physical requirements to be a dancer.

I find the ballet world is so different and so foreign, just as my world is equally different and foreign to dancers. And, that's part of the magic. I am looking forward to learning more.

I am reading Apollo's Angels by Jennifer Homans, though I am still near the beginning.

So if anyone has suggestions as to how I can derive the most enjoyment from the upcoming ballet, I would be most appreciative.

As an addendum, gav indicated that NBoC publishes "Ballet Notes" for each ballet it performs. Here's the one for Serenade: http://www.ballet.ca/pdf/education/BalletNotes/Alice.pdf.