Bluenightdipper

Kate, You are correcct in guessing that I am not black. I would perhaps beg to differ on a few points made by yourself. I know here in Australia that race is also an issue when it comes to football, cricket (hardly any aboriginals), soccer (hardly any Australians) and just about any other sport at an elite level. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps certain races are attracted to certain activities due to their heritage and culture and therefore seen to be elitist by other races and cultures. I will probably be crucified for what I am about to say by it is only my opinion based on personal experience. We all (regardless of race) like to embrace the philosophy of multi-culturalisim, but when it comes to the doing, human nature prevails. Therefore, is elitisim mearly reflecting the subconscious of society? I'm not really into pop culture, music culture and the like, but when I do watch Rage (a bit like MTV I suppose), HIP Hop seems to be very black to me, Punk/Techno seems to be very UK, does that then makes these elitist? Perhaps it does to thoes not involved in those styles. Any woman trying to compete in a male dominated work force of any male for that matter trying to compete in a female dominated work force would relate to this. Does the US have an all black dance company? We have an all aboriginal dance company here in Australia and from what I have heard and read they are highly talented, skilled and yes elite dancers. Like I mentioned in the Australian Ballet forum, trying to see the aboriginal company is just as difficult as it is to see the Australian Ballet if you don't live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra. I'd better get back on track for this forum, Perhaps Ballet is elitist, but then is it really so bad? We all like to be part of something special that reflects our cultural and artistic heritage. Be it black, white, asian, whatever. It is a shame I think when we can't accept that each race/religion will have it's own elite form of dance, music, communication. Perhaps we should be celebrating this elitisim, for each race, because isn't that what the philosophy of multi-culturalism is all about, not a common denominator?

YouOver there, I totally agree with you in that dancers are severely underpaid. This is where I face a connundrum. With the income from ticket sales, Government grants, benefactors, philanthripists etc. Where does is all go?? Like you say, not to the dancers. A bit like companies posting billion dollar profits and laying off thousands of workers, whilst increasing the cost of their product. One begins to wonder if some ventures are never meant to be commercial enterprises and by trying to make them such we are destroying them?

Phew! Thank you Bart for your response. I thought I may have been a little to deep and meaningful with my previous post. It's funny I have been thinking more about this issue and I am begining to wonder is the "elitist" perception (real or otherwise) forged, partly from simple misunderstanding, lack of knowledge, and a case of "couldn't be bothered to taking the time to understand." For example waaaaaaaay back when I was at school (that what it feels like sometimes) part of our curriculum in English was to study some of Shakespeares works and part of the Music curriculum was classical "ancient and out-of-date 19th-century " pieces. I used to do some volunter work with high school aged children and most if not all had no idea who Shakespeare was and as for the 1812 Overture never heard of it, but then when you told them that Shakespeare wrote the original Romeo and Juliet (like the movie with Leonardo Di Caprio) and the 1812 Overture (like the music for the Army recruiting advertisement on TV) there was a feint, slight glimmer of recognition. As humans we tend to denegrate that which we fear most, that which we do not know or understand, hence the "elitist" perception and associated behaviours. Perhaps all that is needed on all sides is a little bit of "education" and by that I don't mean making ballet compulsory, but rather getting "it out there more." By "getting it out there more" I also don't mean "seats being filled by last-minute giveaways and by papering the house " (that is boarderline patronisation) but rather a simple matter of making people aware that ballet whilst it may be an "ancient and out-of-date 19th-century " art, it does exist and it has many great aesthetic, physical, musical, dramatic characteristics which not only make dance what it is but may also add character to a person to enable them to achieve an elite level in whatever they choose to do.

I personally believe, the perception (real or otherwise) of ballet (or any other form of dance, art, music, or sport) is more often than not verbalised most loudly by those whom have never tried to appreciate the work that goes into such endeavours. I also believe that people are more than ever afraid of not being accepted, fitting in or liking what everyone else does (Tall Poppy Syndrome), therefore if it is not everyday it must be ridiculed and branded elitist or pointles. Another factor perhaps in the "elitist" attitude to ballet is perpetuated by the "management" (for want of another word) of companies. I'm not too sure how ticket pricing goes in the US but in Australia more often than not tickets are priced such that to become an avid follower of a Company or even just Ballet one must be of a certain socio-economic status. It is cheaper to get season tickets to the footbal than the the Australian Ballet. Finer margins and "more bums in seats" doesn't seem register. One wonders if by design or by force?? Perhaps the most overlooked reason is society as whole these days. People (again all of my comments are merely my thoughts on th matter and by no means definative) seem to derive more pleasure these days and only seem to be able to make themselves feel better when they are putting someone else down for any reason they can find. One can hardly scream at a soloist to "get a move on" like at the football, or cricket for example, whilst eating a pie and drinking a beer. Ballet requires discipline not do, to watch and from that comes enjoyment (for the dancer and the audience). The irony is whilst the "older" population becomes more and more undisciplined and young girls are often criticised for not being disciplined and having no direction, in a small regional area of tasmania there are more than five ballet schools all full with young girls wanting to learn the art of ballet. I know I like to think of myself as achieving something that not everyone else can, but then, I also see my husband achieving something that I can't do in his rockclimbing endeavours (rockclimbing also appears to me to have the same perceptions as ballet in regard to elitisim). At the end of the day he appreciates the work and skill that goes into my dancing and I appreciate the work and skill that goes into his rockclimbing. I think they call that one respect. Art imitates life or life imitates art, a case of the chicken and the egg. Just my thoughts.

Oh the shame!! Not one Australian has posted here. Once again Tasmania misses out on any cultural enjoyment. Tour directors (not only ballet) seem to think that the Eastern seaboard only comprises Sydney, Melbourne and occasionally Brisbane and Canberra thrown in? It is a sad state of affairs when the Russian School of Ballet performed here two or so years ago to sellout audiences and due to public demand they increased the number of performances and also extended the tour (and that was only in regional Tasmania), but we can't even get to see our own Ballet company perform. I wonder what audience they are trying to cater to? Do many/any of the US companies have a philosophy on performing in regional areas?