Balletwannabe

7 minutes ago, nanushka said:

We also have no idea whether the alleged victim did indeed speak out. All the press release says is "ABT was made aware of a highly concerning allegation." We don't know how they were made aware.

I'm trying to think of how else an 8 year old incident would have come to light?  Who else but the victim would be making an allegation?

Just now, aurora said:

It is a question worth asking, but since no information at all has been offered up to the public, it is hardly a surprise that people aren't willing to write off a beloved dancer (and among his peers, friend clearly) without any knowledge of what happened.

 

I also would point out not all victims of the metoo movement have been treated to nothing but accolades.

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/10/asia-argento-harvey-weinstein-italian-backlash

Fair point.

And yikes, I hadn't read about what happened to that woman.

I wonder how the victim of the alleged incident is feeling about all of this support of Gomes.  They probably expected to be praised as brave and courageous for speaking out; as all other victims of the meetoo movement have been.  

Gillian Murphy's post was liked by abtofficial! 

1 hour ago, California said:

Diana Vishneva just posted this on Twitter:

Diana Vishneva‏ @dianavishneva 15m15 minutes ago

More

Let’s not be carried away by the current accusation frenzy but remain mindful and caring. Let’s not mix shameful cases that need to be exposed with those of dubious intentions. Let’s speak up when someone’s treated unfairly. Every voice matters when someone’s future is at stake.

 

Diana Vishneva and marcelo gomes

I think it's noteworthy that Isabella Boylston liked this post.

That's 3 high profile dancers now showing their support. 

The burning question in my mind is, why make it appear like you're guilty by resigning, if you're innocent? Edit- I just read ABsmom possible explanation of this.

19 minutes ago, abatt said:

Why couldn't ABT just announce that Marcelo had resigned, and leave it at that.  By adding all of this additional, info to the press release, they damaged Marcelo's reputation for no apparent reason.  Since ABT became "aware" of the incident on Saturday and Marcelo resigned on Thursday, I doubt the investigation had barely begun.  This is political correctness and cover your a-s overkill to the extreme on the part of ABT.  Disgusting. 

 

Additionally, unless Marcelo had done something questionable/criminal/offensive  at work or there was a  complaint of another employee of ABT against Marcelo,  ABT had no duty to investigate Marcelo.  This is political correctness run amuck.

But we have no idea what the details are...ABT apparently does.  

4 minutes ago, Helene said:

Gelsey Kirkland did: she described being a young dancer in the company and hearing that Balanchine, in exchange for gropes, would have appliances delivered to their apartments.  Imagine being a young teenager, and learning this about someone people considered to be god-like, your new boss.

The dancer world closed ranks and bombarded her with criticism, rage, and distain.  

In the back of my mind I'm been thinking- would the dance world respond to her book the same way now?  There seemed to be so little compassion for her.  

8 minutes ago, kfw said:

I think your second paragraph is plainly true. Balanchine's pursuit of women could have created an environment in which the female dancers were uncomfortable with him, feared his attention, and feared to refuse it. But 34 years after his death, no one, to my knowledge, has publicly said that was the case. By all accounts, they loved him. It's possible that someone will say otherwise now, given all the attention sexual harassment is receiving. But until such a time, the opposite appears to be true.

Suzanne Farrel obviously adores him; that doesn't make her account (in her book) of how he treated her seem normal or ok. 

I think it looks pretty awesome!  I thought the dancer I saw in the trailer was African American? I didn't see Keira Knightley...I'll have to watch more closley.

Edit- ok, so I think they're both in it.  The pink haired one was Knightley as the Sugar Plum.  I hope they don't make her dance though (unless she had ballet training?)...the dancing I did see looked good!

Just now, abatt said:

This story seems to be morphing out of sexual abuse and towards physical abuse of a non-sexual nature.  

I think they'll have to address the recent anonymous letter though; since they announced an investigation.  The public won't forget about that.

Kathryn Morgan addressing this topic:

2 minutes ago, California said:

NYCB just announced its interim leadership team:

"The group overseeing the artistic management of City Ballet will be led by Jonathan Stafford, a ballet master and former principal dancer with the company. Joining him will be Justin Peck, City Ballet’s resident choreographer and soloist, along with Craig Hall and Rebecca Krohn, both ballet masters."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/arts/dance/team-to-lead-city-ballet-during-martins-sexual-harassment-probe.html

Group effort, I like it.

Side note- Appearance is huge in ballet.  Sex put aside, it's no secret that the more attractive people rise through the ranks quicker (of course because of their talent and work ethic as well).  The principal's at NYCB are all very attractice, which is why many of them also get modeling gigs on the side.  I guess my point is that if you have a straight male as an AD, your sex appeal in his eyes could affect your career, simply because he's human and a man, even if he's not saying or doing anything innapropriate.  One of the reasons I'd like to see a female AD.  

25 minutes ago, Kathleen O'Connell said:

The Union. I don't know how up to the task AGMA might have been in the early 90s, but they are alert to the issue now: AGMA ESTABLISHES A SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS TO REPORT CONDUCT THAT CREATES A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.  This is one reason why unions are important — or at least should be. As institutions, they likely have some catching up to do as well.

On a different note: I still remember Kelly Cass; she was a genuinely lovely and talented dancer. 

PS: One important aspect of the AD's job is the management of the company's relationship with the union. The Board will likely have that in mind when the consider their next course of action.

Yup this makes sense.  I initially read that qoute as "there's nothing I can do", but I realize now that she meant specifically within the company.

30 minutes ago, nanushka said:

We don't know what the exact context of that quotation was.

“There was no HR, no protection, nowhere to go to,” she says. 

She could very well have been talking about in the company. (In fact, the start of the sentence suggests that may be the case.)

 

Probably some misunderstanding on my part and failure to explain myself well enough. 

Anyways, it was difficult to read the description of what happened.  Makes me angry and my immediate response was, police!

1 minute ago, aurora said:

That doesn't detract from her point that in a company that size there should have been some mechanism in place for employees to complain about abusive behavior.

Point taken.  But would she not have also been terrified of the consequences of complaining to HR?  Just thinking outloud.

3 minutes ago, aurora said:

My impression is that this wasn't the case that triggered the investigation.

And I think you underestimate how easy people find it to report their bosses, who have been in control of them since they were literally children, to the police.

I don't think I said anything about it being easy.  

2 minutes ago, meliodori said:

Going to the police would have meant jeopardizing her career. That's a terrible situation to be put in by someone in a position of power.

The implications of that would have been serious, I understand.  But there was that option.  

"no where to go, no protection"?  The police perhaps?  And why was this charactized as sexual assault when the description suggests otherwise?  So many questions...

Does anyone remember the chapter in Suzanne Farrel's book in which she excuses Balanchines innapropriate realtionship with her?  I re-read it today to see if I was remembering it correctly.  Yup, she didn't think Balachine's apology was necessary.  Considering the topic being discussed and many mentioning her name, I can't stop thinking about that paragraph. 

19 minutes ago, FITTB85 said:

I read an interview in a French publication with Sebastien Marcovici where he said how hard it is to teach ballet in America because you literally cannot physically touch the students.  Imagine trying to correct a child's sickled foot with only words, you'd have to be very articulate and the kid would have to be very physically aware.

I would like to know if apprentices or company members ever have any training about "workplace harassment."  Given that ballet has a different set of rules it would be beneficial for it to be spelled out, exactly what can be considered harassment so dancers know their rights and everyone knows where they stand. 

The teachers at my dd's school are hands on when it comes to corrections; are you saying this isn't common in the US? (we are in the US to be clear) As you said, I'm not sure how else you could properly teach?

Wendy Whelan.  

Few bounce back from allegations whether they're true or not...I don't think this is going to end well.

"Bringing health to ballet"?  What will they do that other companies aren't?

2 minutes ago, pherank said:

 

The Four T's is one of my favorite ballets (and that's true for many people). A great piece to end an evening on.

Allegro Brilliante seems fairly popular with regional companies: the ballet doesn't require a large stage area; it is short in length; and it is packed with lots of classical ballet technical challenges.

Balanchine's Swan Lake was a minimal take on the Petipa/Ivanov original - focusing on Act II which was choreographed by Ivanov. The NYCB website mentions that the stage and costume designs used now are the 3rd version developed (the original ones were by Cecil Beaton). Peter Martins has created a full-length Swan Lake which you probably have heard about (but I haven't seen it to say anything about it).

 

Definitely you need to see Apollo (one of those historic ballets to check off the list of must-do's). I saw Apollo on film first (the Jacques D'Amboise/Diana Adams version from the 1950s) and it really opened my eyes to a dance world beyond Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.

In addition, I would say see these Balanchine ballets:

 

Serenade

Concerto Barocco

Symphony in C

Agon

Prodigal Son (like Apollo, created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes)

Jewels (consisting of Emeralds, Rubies and Diamonds each of which can appear on its own in a program)

Stravinsky Violin Concerto

Theme and Variations

 

That would be my basic "desert island" list. But everyone has other favorites that they would add - I love large amounts of La Valse, for example, but I'm not sure I can say it belongs on a general top ten list. Many people love A Midsummer Nights Dream, or Vienna Waltzes, Western Symphony, or Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, and on and on...

Balanchine's versions of The Nutcracker and Coppelia are much performed ballets (his version of Nutcracker, or ballets based off his version, must be the most seen ballets in the US).

 

Yes, I believe Farrell has the rights to Mozartiana which was created on her. Tanaquil Le Clercq had the rights to the vast majority of the ballets, but I don't know what happened to the rights upon her death.

 

 

Thank you for this list.