Balletwannabe

24 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

Do you really think that all people are incapable of change and growth? That once a person has comitted a crime there is no hope of rehabilitation, unless they have some named disease to rehab? I ask this separate from considerations of employment or dance careers. 

I think change is possible. What it takes is introspection, acknowledgement of one’s faults and misdeeds (or crimes), atonement, a real willingness to change and good old fashioned work. If someone came to me and apologized (ok, not Chase Finlay, he’s got a Looooooong way to go) acknowledged the pain they’d caused, and willingly submitted to punishment... well, I’m not sure that would do it, but add some time in there and who knows? I have seen people make remarkable turnarounds in their lives. 

Saying change is impossible because a person doesn’t have a named disease just seems inaccurate. Sinners repent, alcoholics work their recovery, people can grow up and take responsibility. They have to do it humbly, without a thought to receiving anything in return.

Of course, people can also change for the worse. 

No one said change was impossible.  I said time off doesn't change ones character.  You have to actually want to change, and so far none of these men have admitted any wrong doing whatsoever.  Even if they did change- there are consequences to actions.  No female dancer should be forced to accept them into their trust again.  I don't believe suspending them goes far enough.  I don't believe for a second that every NYCB dancer is ok with them returning.  Not to mention none of the dancers who initially supported them have shown (public) support after the details came out.  

1 minute ago, manhattangal said:

Allow me to add to the chorus of long-time admirers of New York City Ballet who are both shocked and saddened by the latest events. I particularly lament that Amar Ramasar is embroiled in this, as I was looking forward to his return to NYCB in January 2019. Hopefully it will still happen if he serves his punishment (time off) in a relatively honorable manner.  Sigh.

 

 

How does time off change someone's character?  I think it would be rather cruel to force any of the females to dance with them again.

7 minutes ago, cobweb said:

Vipa, it was an event with dancers from the company. I know I mentioned this same thing last year when Martins was fired, and some of you, including you I believe, disagreed with me. For me, I found it troubling, and it changed the way I saw Peter Martins. 

I agree with you and I'm having a hard time understanding the other point of view.  Thinking about the type of touch you described, happening on stage, makes my skin crawl.  Was he treating the male dancers the same way?

24 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

If she's 19, a news site can go with the headline, "Teen ballerina sexually....[whatever]" and people click on it to see if she's 14. If they don't read the article they might imagine NYCB is sending out teen hookers. Look at the differences in reporting from the various news outlets. Some are incredibly salacious, others less so.

This is very true...there are "teenage ballerina..." headlines floating around.  I believe the lawyer made a calculated decision in making this "mistake" of circulating that she was 19.  

Ah ok- thanks for the clarification.  I don't use any i-products so I didn't realize text messages would show up on a laptop.

Maybe this was already answered- how would anyone have access to text messages from the men's personal cell's?  In the interview this morning she states she found out that images had been sent to 9 men on Chase's laptop.  I'm assuming she found the "innaproppriate emails".  How do text messages fit into this?  How in the world did NYCB get access to a text to Finlay from the donor?

Just now, AB'sMom said:

Earlier in the thread I had mentioned the hotel room in DC as having $150,000 in damages, which seemed like an absurdly high amount. Rereading the complaint I see that it actually says:

 Likewise, on a recent trip to Washington D.C., several members of defendant NEW YORK CITY BALLET, INC., including, but not limited to, defendant CHASE FINLAY were fined over $150,000 for destroying a hotel room at a party they hosted with underage girls to whom they provided and plied with drugs and alcohol.

Company paid for room, correct?  On company tour?  So how exactly, does an incident like this not result in immediate suspension, at the very least?  

I don't think it's reasonable to keep an employee after they trash a hotel room.  

I watched the Good Morning America interview.  She claimed images were shared with "9 men"?? UHG.  However she didn't specifically say 9 "dancers".

Saying something...without really saying something.  Lol.  Well played Lovette!  I really do love this qoute 

Amar attempted to keep deleting negative comments, but has now made his IG private.

4 hours ago, wonderwall said:

During graduate school, I remember reading a few ethnographic studies on male sports teams regarding gender norms, masculinity, etc. One of the interesting observations made was that male teams in sports typically viewed as a "softer" or "more feminine" often had cultures that endorsed toxic masculinity (I remember a particularly shocking one about a male volleyball team, but interesting nonetheless). Of course, ballet is not a gendered team sport in the traditional sense, but reading through this, it makes me wonder whether their profession causes some male dancers to feel the need to overtly demonstrate macho masculinity/womanizing behavior (compensating in some way). While ballet is already entrenched in gendered roles/power structures, it is just interesting food for thought.

I watched this after reading this thread and thought it was very interesting--especially 2:52 through the end.

 

"We have each other's back" -Chase&Amar😒

The comments on Finlay's IG are brutal.  

I bet the NYCB female dancers who rushed to publicly support these dancers on IG aren't feeling too hot right now.  Why would you just assume they are innocent? 

I second the thought of hoping for a female AD.

20 minutes ago, vipa said:

I believe that Kirkland pretty much renounced her SAB training and went Russian, or tried to in some ways. She is a fan of full length, story ballets including mime. I don't think she'd be a fit for NYCB. I agree that she was special as a dancer, not my favorite, but special. However that doesn't mean she has what it takes to be a great teacher or coach. Most importantly she has never indicated an interest in the Balanchine legacy, quite the opposite.

Yes, I was thinking specifically of the non-Balanchine story ballets.  She's been teaching for several years now, yes, I understand it's Russian... but so is the foundation of Balanchine technique.  Anyways, as I said, I realize this is a controversial opinion.  

Probably controversial and will never happen but I wish they would ask Gelsey Kirkland to coach.  Everyone always says how special she was...well there's a reason for that!  Why not utilize her talents now that her ex is out of the picture!

Mearns seem fine.  Unlike her blackout IG photo when Martins resigned.  

I don't think they would want to lose any of their top dancers.  Lovette/Peck/Bouder all have leadership skills but have years of dancing left.

Also no offense to Bouders parenting style, but I think she would have to drastically change her schedule if she were AD. She seems to have her daughter with her a lot and I don't see how that would work as AD. 

I still love the idea of Whelan.  

Quite bizzare.  How does one "see" into another woman's mind.  After reading her autobiography all I could think was "that's so messed up!!" (her relationship with Mr. B).  Why question her feelings about it?  

I've said this before on a different topic but it pertains to this as well...there are some of us (new ballet lovers), plus new generations, that are just discovering the brilliance of Balanchine.  None of it is old to us, it's all new and exciting.  Please don't let it die!! Please choose someone who will keep his legacy alive!

*Hopes search committee reads ballet alert comments* 😉

Ah ok.  Thank you.  

I was looking forward to my one show I attend this year being the 1 time only Feb 8th date. Why can't I buy a single ticket?  Is it for subscribers only?

In the comments she says that "life circumstances" helped her lose weight so quickly. 

She looks incredible.  I sincerely hope she is doing well, physically, emotionally, and mentally, despite "life circumstances".   It would be pretty exciting if she started performing again.

I enjoyed her book.  It's nothing like other ballet bio's you'll read. 

Just now, nanushka said:

Yes:

 

Thank you.