2014/15 season

[California]

National Ballet of Canada just announced its 2014/15 season: http://national.ballet.ca/performances/season1415/

Here's Karen Kain's video annnouncement:

http://national.ballet.ca/interact/video/2014-15/?utm_content=buffere2c65&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[sandik]

Four program length narrative ballets and two mixed rep programs (leaving Nut out of the mix) -- is this the usual balance for NBC?

[mom2]

sandik - yes that is about right, though I think in recent years we haven't always had four full length ballets.

This weekend I got around to looking at my subscription renewal info. Holy catfish!! The price has gone up by just over $200, for an early bird cost of just under $1000 for the season!!! This is for the 6 programs - one performance each.

Not sure what I will do. I really like my seat - suspect my seating choice is part of the cost problem, but still. An increase of over 20%??

[sandik]

That does seem high -- has there been any public discussion about this price increase?

[volcanohunter]

I'm afraid to ask how much single tickets are going to cost. If there is a substantial drop in subsciption renewals the company will probably have to reconsider, but that won't help the sticker-shocked in the short run.

[kbarber]

This sudden increase affects those of us who sit in an area previously "zoned" by NBOC as "section 1.2" but rezoned (without warning to us ) as "section 1.1". Section 1.1 used to be only the seats inside the two aisles, but now NBOC has expanded it to include the first 4 seats or so on the outside of the aisles. I have heard a LOT of complaining about this because, yes, it represents a huge percentage increase in the price of a subscription (which is already pricy compared to just about every other company in North America and indeed the world), and it's a rather cavalier way to treat people who by definition (subscribers in one of the most expensive areas of the house) are among the ballet's most ardent supporters (and many of us make substantial donations on top of that).

Single ticket prices, on the other hand, and all the other sections of the theatre, have increased by only about 5%. And NBOC is now offering 45% off the single ticket prices for all subscriptions on Thursday afternoons. Not much consolation for those of us in the erstwhile section 1.2 who don't go to the ballet on Thursday afternoons.

I intend to write NBOC to complain and I recommend anyone else affected by this do the same. I hear that complaints are already coming in. I doubt it will make a difference but I don't think we should take this sitting down (pardon the pun).

[abatt]

This sounds like what NYCB did a few years ago. They drastically increased the prices in many seating areas, so the only option for those unwilling to pay the new prices were to either move to a different (worse) seating area or stop going all together. I think they lost a lot of subscribers who were not willing to put up with the new pricing system.

[Waelsung]

And what about the casts? When are they usually announced? (I wonder if Lunkina will be dancing anything.)

[mom2]

NBOC announces casting very close to the program dates…. generally about 2 weeks in advance or so. Therefore not any help when making decisions about subscriptions for next season.

As I always have gone on a Sunday matinee I can sometimes predict who I'll see as Sunday is generally not first cast (and yes I may have an opinion about that too…) However sometimes over the last season or so we have seen some amazing performances. There are some up and coming soloists that I don't get to see enough of, and one that I see too much of.

[sandik]

At Pacific Northwest Ballet, we often see upcoming dancers get a chance at a role in the matinee shows on the second (last) weekend of a run. It can be quite fun -- a bit like trainspotting or birdwatching.

[Jayne]

At Pacific Northwest Ballet, we often see upcoming dancers get a chance at a role in the matinee shows on the second (last) weekend of a run. It can be quite fun -- a bit like trainspotting or birdwatching.

I agree with this idea. I've seen some very interesting casts on Sundays, or even Saturday afternoons. My mother gripes when she doesn't get the "star", but I enjoy seeing the debuts.

[sandik]

In this upcoming run of Midsummer Night's Dream, the first Saturday matinee cast is full of debuts -- I'm really looking forward to it!

[Lynette H]

Wheeldon's Winter's Tale is a co production between the Royal Ballet and NBC. The premiere is this week. I thought it might have featured in the NBC 2014/5 season. But it doesn't appear to be there. Maybe the next season ?

[kbarber]

I believe it will be in 2015-16 in Toronto.

[sandik]

I believe it will be in 2015-16 in Toronto.

So are we going to have to wait for that premiere before they can include this ballet in a North American broadcast?

[kbarber]

I believe it will be in 2015-16 in Toronto.

So are we going to have to wait for that premiere before they can include this ballet in a North American broadcast?

you would have to ask the NBOC or the RB!

[mom2]

further to my season's ticket pricing rant….

I had a call the other night from NBOC while I was cooking dinner. Normally I wouldn't pick up at that time, but figured I had something to say. The man on the other end of the phone was probably taken aback (I think he was calling for donations), but he was very nice. Said he would look into it and call me back. He didn't.

I did tell him that I was not about to make a donation when the price of my season's tickets went up so much, without warning.

Guess I have a couple of weeks to decide before the early bird deadline.

Question: do other big companies have the renewal process so early?

[sandik]

Pacific Northwest Ballet has been in renewals for over a month -- they started during the February repertory. The season starts in mid-September.

[California]

As I remember, NYCB last year announced the entire next season about May 1 and subscription renewals started right away, for a season that opens in September.

Colorado Ballet announced the new season in February at their last big program at the Opera House (the final program is at the University of Denver in late March) and subscriptions were available for renewal at that point, with a deadline of July 1 to keep your seats. Singles will go on sale in mid-July for a season that starts in late September.

RE: another issue on this thread: I read that telemarketers in the US do the solicitations for donations and also subscriptions and keep a big % of the revenue. I always deal directly with companies (via their web sites), so all the money goes to the company. I don't know if that's true in Canada.

[sandik]

RE: another issue on this thread: I read that telemarketers in the US do the solicitations for donations and also subscriptions and keep a big % of the revenue. I always deal directly with companies (via their web sites), so all the money goes to the company. I don't know if that's true in Canada.

This varies from company to company -- if you're concerned, you can ask about the breakdown of the donation, but don't assume that it's all to the bad.

[mom2]

NBOC seems to have a large "corps" of volunteers and staffers for the fundraising. usually very nice people who actually know a lot about the ballet, so one doesn't mind the phone call terribly (though it would be nice if they avoided my dinner hour).

[kbarber]

NBOC does not use volunteers for telemarketing (either fundraising or ticket sales). They are paid, I believe by hourly wage, not by commission.

[mom2]

no good news about the price of my seat, but some very nice news regarding male principal dancers...

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2014/04/27/in_evan_mckie_national_ballet_gains_a_ballet_superstar.html

[volcanohunter]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. Jason Reilly had similarly announced his decision to move back to Canada before changing his mind.

[mom2]

This is true… hopefully this time it will stick??