Report: Stiefel new director of Pacifica Ballet

[Thalictum]

The Orange County Register reports that Ethan Stiefel is the new director of Pacifica Ballet, assisted by John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow.

[socalgal]

Do you mean Ballet Pacifica in Orange County???????

[Dale]

I would guess that is it - here's their website: www.balletpacifica.org/

It mentions that the company has an "interim" artistic director.

Editing to add the link for the article (thanks Thalictum):

http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2004/12/15/s...icle_344609.php

[socalgal]

Thanks, Dale, for the news link. I am absolutely blown away by this announcement.

Very interesting and a bit puzzling actually. So Ethan will still perform with ABT and run this So. Calif. company. Well, it certainly has exciting possibilities but as many of you know, the success rate of ballet companies making good is bleak. I hope he breaks the 'curse'.........this area of California could very well support and encourage a top rate ballet group. My fingers and toes are crossed and double crossed!

[pj]

When I first read about this I mentally put it in the category of "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is..."

This is very interesting information and I have to agree with socalgal; I am totally blown away!

Wow!

My other initial reaction is "Who is bankrolling this adventure?" (I'm soooo skeptical; I'm sorry). I didn't know there was money for the real fine arts in Southern California.

It would sure be a lucky break for those of us who live in the area, if it works out.

[Mel Johnson]

Management modelers have been telling us for years to "think outside of the box". This certainly is that!

[BW]

I was so glad to read this article - especially happy for Amanda McKerrow and John Gardiner to have found a new home. Can't help but wonder if they'll be involved in the school, as well. If so, the students are extremely fortunate!

[Guest sujet59]

Wow! I too am blown away by this news. This is exciting for California!

[Leigh Witchel]

I'm going to sound like a jerk here, but. . .

Molly Lynch was running a good company for more than a decade before this happened, and before some altercation with the board happened that threw the company into complete disarray and forced her out. I don't know the details, nor can I posit where blame lies. What we have now is another principal male dancer who is obviously gifted as a dancer but with very little experience running a company being appointed to a directorship. There's some logic to it (it attracts donations and buzz) and Steifel may prove to be quite good at the job, but what is thinking outside the box about that? It's what every company in America does now.

[Mel Johnson]

It is, I believe, at least unconventional to appoint a principal dancer of one ballet company to the artistic directorship of another, and for the individual to hold both posts concurrently.

[Helene]

There's some logic to it (it attracts donations and buzz)

Stiefel has a donor sponsor at ABT. Perhaps he will be able to attract one for this position. It would be ironic if life is following the script of Center Stage, and he already has one

[paolo]

Not that unusual, especially for ABT. Doesn't Bocca direct a group in Argentina, and Nina in Georgia. And also, Sylvie at La Scala.

[Mel Johnson]

Those are "off-shore" directorships. This is the first time I can recall a principal from a major American company doing this inside the US. Tax and corporate laws may have something to do with it.

[Dale]

Not that unusual, especially for ABT.  Doesn't Bocca direct a group in Argentina, and Nina in Georgia.  And also, Sylvie at La Scala.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And Ananiashvilli hasn't been seen at ABT since, missing the City Center season and is not cast for the first week in Washington. She didn't dance with the Bolshoi on tour either. Malakhov also has cut back his schedule with ABT. For Malakhov it makes more sense, he is older than Stiefel. I'd hate to see Stiefel cut back performing while in the prime of his career.

[carbro]

It was announced that Nina was taking several months off for unspecified medical reasons. Who knows? I hope the delay in her return is not due to anything serious.

[Amy Reusch]

Those are "off-shore" directorships.  This is the first time I can recall a principal from a major American company doing this inside the US.  Tax and corporate laws may have something to do with it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edward Villella was "artistic advisor" to NJ Ballet for 36 of it's 47 years of existence, I think he must have still been dancing with NYCB for the early years, when his name was prominently listed... I thought, in fact, that he was "artistic director" to Carolyn Brown's "executive director", Joseph Carow's "assistant artistic director" and George Tomal's "resident choreographer" in the early years, but perhaps that standing changed when Villella became true artistic director for the Eglevsky. My understanding was that Villella auditioned their Nutcracker cast, danced in some of the early productions and workshops, and taught master classes for them, but wasn't involved in the day-to-day running of the company; much like Steifel's role might for Ballet Pacifica... but then again, my memory isn't always trustworthy.