Veronika Part leaving ABT

[Kathleen O'Connell]

8 minutes ago, abatt said:

Fascinating.  Thanks for the tax return.  Is the 2016 return available anywhere?

 

I'm in the wrong line of business.  Director of Marketing Timm makes $176,000?!  Is he the mastermind behind prohibiting subscribers from buying additional tickets during subscriber priority week?  Pure genius!!

 

ABT's fiscal year ends on December 31, which means its 990 must be filed with the IRS by May 15 of the following year, unless it files for a three month extension. The PDF version is usually made available some period of time after the filing date. Either ABT filed for an extension or the PDF version of the 990 hasn't been posted anywhere yet. (To its great credit, ABT makes its 990s available on its own website - not a lot of arts organizations do that.)

 

Note that the IRS does not itself publish PDFs of a given organization's Form 990 - that's usually done by  organizations such as The Foundation Center or Guidestar. It is now possible to download 990 data directly from the IRS in XML format via the open data resources on Amazon Web Services. A number of organizations have started working on tools to parse this information and make it readily available.

[Kathleen O'Connell]

6 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

 

But, the fact that the Dir. of Marketing is paid more than Murphy is outrageous.

 

Murphy may in fact make more than the Marketing Director on a weekly basis. It would depend on the length of her contract in weeks and whether or not the Marketing Director position is a full-time, full year job. 

[ABT Fan]

8 minutes ago, Kathleen O'Connell said:

 

Murphy may in fact make more than the Marketing Director on a weekly basis. It would depend on the length of her contract in weeks and whether or not the Marketing Director position is a full-time, full year job. 

 

That's an interesting thought. I hadn't considered that their office jobs are for the full year. Their job openings listed on their website doesn't specify. I wonder how one finds that out?

[fondoffouettes]

The online petition has surpassed 500. (I have to admit that I did not expect it to do quite so well). The organizer's public-facing Facebook feed indicates that she's applied for a public protest license from the NYPD. I'm assuming that any gathering would take place in the space right in front of the plaza, like for the Death of Klinghoffer protests. 

Edited July 6, 2017 by fondoffouettes

[LadyBubbles]

Wow, okay. I don't mean to be rude to the organizer and/or to Part's fans, but isn't that a little too much?

It's always hard to maintain a good relationship with a former employer when you get fired, but this could bring the situation to a whole new level of animosity between the two parties involved. What if McKenzie is gone in a year or two and the new director wants to work with Part? I doubt the board would welcome her back after a public protest.

Scenario 2: imagine that the protest works and she is able to stay. I can't even imagine how awkward everything would be with management and even some dancers next year. I would much rather see her elsewhere and happy than at ABT and being totally miserable.

 

My .02. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone.

[nanushka]

7 minutes ago, LadyBubbles said:

Wow, okay. I don't mean to be rude to the organizer and/or to Part's fans, but isn't that a little too much?

It's always hard to maintain a good relationship with a former employer when you get fired, but this could bring the situation to a whole new level of animosity between the two parties involved. What if McKenzie is gone in a year or two and the new director wants to work with Part? I doubt the board would welcome her back after a public protest.

Scenario 2: imagine that the protest works and she is able to stay. I can't even imagine how awkward everything would be with management and even some dancers next year. I would much rather see her elsewhere and happy than at ABT and being totally miserable.

 

My .02. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone.

 

Agreed. And it could also cause concern among any other potential future employers if Veronika were perceived as having been involved. In her own comments on Facebook, writing to the organizer back before the petition was even created, Veronika asked her to drop the issue. Later, even some of her initial comments about the situation were subsequently deleted. She's likely trying to keep her distance from all of this.

Edited July 6, 2017 by nanushka

[fondoffouettes]

3 minutes ago, LadyBubbles said:

Wow, okay. I don't mean to be rude to the organizer and/or to Part's fans, but isn't that a little too much?

It's always hard to maintain a good relationship with a former employer when you get fired, but this could bring the situation to a whole new level of animosity between the two parties involved. What if McKenzie is gone in a year or two and the new director wants to work with Part? I doubt the board would welcome her back after a public protest.

Scenario 2: imagine that the protest works and she is able to stay. I can't even imagine how awkward everything would be with management and even some dancers next year. I would much rather see her elsewhere and happy than at ABT and being totally miserable.

 

My .02. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone.

I agree, even though I'm a diehard Part fan. An online petition is a nice gesture, but I worry that any public demonstration will only breed ill-will and accomplish nothing. There's no way she can continue with the company in a normal fashion given what's happened so far. At this point, I think energies are best focused on making Part feel appreciated in her farewell performance.

[ABT Fan]

I agree that a public protest is a little much (and I'm very upset over Part being fired), but to each his own.

 

However, Part hasn't organized this and I haven't seen anything anywhere that shows that she has had the slightest hand in the petition or the protest's organization. Of course, Part could still be blamed for either. I also doubt that McKenzie will be leaving anytime soon so I don't think we have to consider her coming back.

 

Edited to add: I agree with fondofouettes above that we should focus on giving her a hearty farewell. I think the organizer means well, but I'd hate to see Part's last days with the company clouded by a Lincoln Center protest.

Edited July 6, 2017 by ABT Fan

[canbelto]

7 minutes ago, LadyBubbles said:

Wow, okay. I don't mean to be rude to the organizer and/or to Part's fans, but isn't that a little too much?

It's always hard to maintain a good relationship with a former employer when you get fired, but this could bring the situation to a whole new level of animosity between the two parties involved. What if McKenzie is gone in a year or two and the new director wants to work with Part? I doubt the board would welcome her back after a public protest.

Scenario 2: imagine that the protest works and she is able to stay. I can't even imagine how awkward everything would be with management and even some dancers next year. I would much rather see her elsewhere and happy than at ABT and being totally miserable.

 

My .02. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone.

 

If you go to the organizer's page (and it's all public facing, so it's not a secret) the organizer has also had an ugly exchange with Alexei Ratmansky that she copied/pasted to her page and asked people to donate money to the cause. I'm sure she's a genuine fan of Veronika but some of her methods are questionable and Veronika has not posted anything to encourage this organizer's actions. 

[Fleurfairy]

14 minutes ago, LadyBubbles said:

Wow, okay. I don't mean to be rude to the organizer and/or to Part's fans, but isn't that a little too much?

It's always hard to maintain a good relationship with a former employer when you get fired, but this could bring the situation to a whole new level of animosity between the two parties involved. What if McKenzie is gone in a year or two and the new director wants to work with Part? I doubt the board would welcome her back after a public protest.

Scenario 2: imagine that the protest works and she is able to stay. I can't even imagine how awkward everything would be with management and even some dancers next year. I would much rather see her elsewhere and happy than at ABT and being totally miserable.

 

My .02. Again, I don't mean to offend anyone.

Yeah, this is not the best idea. In fact, it sounds kind of mental. And we don't know what has gone on between Part, McKenzie and the Board. 

Edited July 6, 2017 by Fleurfairy

[ABT Fan]

6 minutes ago, canbelto said:

 

If you go to the organizer's page (and it's all public facing, so it's not a secret) the organizer has also had an ugly exchange with Alexei Ratmansky that she copied/pasted to her page and asked people to donate money to the cause. I'm sure she's a genuine fan of Veronika but some of her methods are questionable and Veronika has not posted anything to encourage this organizer's actions. 

 

Oh good grief. I'm not on Facebook so I don't know how to find this, but maybe I'm better off not reading it. 

[canbelto]

Here is what the organizer wrote about Ratmansky. Again this is all public facing. But I sincerely hope she does NOT go through with the plan to throw a tomato at him.

 

Quote

I read the farewell of our chief choreographer, Alexey Ratmanskogo, who blocked me after I answered him. I'd like to buy a tomato and buy tickets to the first row of floor. How disgusting and cynical, a man who can and should be supported, and as a man of intercession, cynically writes "don't be discouraged"!!!!!! shame!!!!!! No more ratmansky for me!!!! I hate sleznyakov!!!!!
" Veronica, don't be discouraged, everything will be fine (well and cynical!!!!! Knowing that a man is thrown out... where are you, boomerang.... and that's when he (Boomerang) comes back to Alexis, don't forget him with words - don't be ) It's the right thing to do. Thank you for all our joint work starting with a poem of ecstasy. On Dnieper, 9 I'm a symphony, a nutcracker, a rooster, a light stream, sleeping, dombarton, 7 Sonatas. Got what to remember!!! Hug you tight and wish a happy new stage in life ".

 

And the organizer decided to write this back in response:

Quote

First They Came
Pastor Martin Niemoller
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

 

Yeah so ... um ... yeah.

Edited July 6, 2017 by canbelto

[Fleurfairy]

Good lord. I hope ABT hires some extra security on Saturday. 

[abatt]

Just now, Fleurfairy said:

Good lord. I hope ABT hires some extra security on Saturday. 

Exactly what I was thinking! 

[atm711]

What a "dog eat dog world" it is!  As a ballet-goer for many years I have always considered my self lucky to have seen some of the "greats" in their final years.  Danilova, in her later 40's, Alicia Markova (short on technique) the wonderful Riabouchinska with scant technique when I saw her in the late 40's.  But, Oh their Artistry!!  I must have sensed the "handwriting on the wall" because this is the first time I did not have a subscription to ABT; and, for sure, not happy with their company ballerinas---who make good soloists, at least.

[Kaysta]

This is getting crazy.  I like Veronika Part, and will miss seeing her O/O and Nikiya, but I don't think this is doing her any favors.  And I don't find Ratmansky's comments rude or demeaning to Veronika at all.  

 

 

[Natalia]

2 hours ago, Fleurfairy said:

Good lord. I hope ABT hires some extra security on Saturday. 

 

The Bellevue paddy wagon should be standing by.

[fondoffouettes]

Part has posted two responses to the public-facing Facebook thread we've all been talking about:

• It is done deal. They gave my contract away to some dancer. I don't know who..
• You can let them know you're not excited about this turn of events, but can you change it, I don't know ..

The first was posted in English. The second has been translated from the Russian.

 

Edited to add: I know others have said that dancers are usually informed months in advance that their contracts are not renewed (in order to provide them time to look for other employment). The hasty and seemingly unplanned nature of Part's departure seems to imply that management decided to promote a dancer after the Met season had already started and then needed to terminate Part's contract as a result. Perhaps all the promising debuts of the soloist ladies has led them to promote one more dancer than they'd initially planned. And that additional money needed to come from somewhere...

 

Edited July 6, 2017 by fondoffouettes

[ABT Fan]

24 minutes ago, fondoffouettes said:

Part has posted two responses to the public-facing Facebook thread we've all been talking about:

• It is done deal. They gave my contract away to some dancer. I don't know who..
• You can let them know you're not excited about this turn of events, but can you change it, I don't know ..

The first was posted in English. The second has been translated from the Russian.

 

Edited to add: I know others have said that dancers are usually informed months in advance that their contracts are not renewed (in order to provide them time to look for other employment). The hasty and seemingly unplanned nature of Part's departure seems to imply that management decided to promote a dancer after the Met season had already started and then needed to terminate Part's contract as a result. Perhaps all the promising debuts of the soloist ladies has led them to promote one more dancer than they'd initially planned. And that additional money needed to come from somewhere...

 

 

I don't know. I'm finding this all very circumspect. That would open themselves up to a lawsuit if she was fired like that. She's protected by the union. But, you have a point. Perhaps given that she was let go, Part didn't want any farewell or announcement and management insisted to save face and it took them this long to reach an agreement. But, the fact that nothing was formally issued or programmed until this week only adds to the drama and second-guessing of this entirely awful situation.

[fondoffouettes]

1 minute ago, ABT Fan said:

 

I don't know. I'm finding this all very circumspect. That would open themselves up to a lawsuit if she was fired like that. She's protected by the union. But, you have a point. Perhaps given that she was let go, Part didn't want any farewell or announcement and management insisted to save face and it took them this long to reach an agreement. But, the fact that nothing was formally issued or programmed until this week only adds to the drama and second-guessing of this entirely awful situation.

Ah, yes -- sorry, I forgot about the union issue. I guess there must have been other disagreements and/or negotiations that have led to such an odd treatment of the farewell. 

[its the mom]

Many AGMA contracts require that dancers who have been with the company over a certain number of years be told early enough in the season to be able to audition or prepare for their retirement. I know this is the case in Boston.  I cannot imagine that ABT is all that different.  I am sure Part knew well in advance that this was coming.  We can speculate all we want about how it went down, but AGMA does protect them.  

[canbelto]

Um so ... there's going to be a protest AFTER the performance and apparently they've called the news and TV stations. I really hope that the performance is not marred for people like me who bought a ticket just to express appreciation to Ms. Part. I don;t want this turning into a three-ring circus. 

[fondoffouettes]

14 minutes ago, canbelto said:

Um so ... there's going to be a protest AFTER the performance and apparently they've called the news and TV stations. I really hope that the performance is not marred for people like me who bought a ticket just to express appreciation to Ms. Part. I don;t want this turning into a three-ring circus. 

I can't see this garnering much mainstream news attention, to be honest. What they are protesting isn't a hot-button issue for 99.9% of the population. If coverage is their objective, I think the best they could hope for is a follow-up article in the NYT. I think it's a blessing they've settled upon after the performance. That seems like it will cause much less of a disturbance. 

 

I've been spending every day agonizing over whether to attend this performance after being a Part fan for about 12 years. Ultimately, I've decided to forgo it and cherish her splendid performance from Monday eve. I worry this last-minute farewell will be satisfying to none involved (in terms of curtain calls, etc.). But I will depend on reports from the BA community!!!

Edited July 6, 2017 by fondoffouettes

[nanushka]

59 minutes ago, canbelto said:

Um so ... there's going to be a protest AFTER the performance and apparently they've called the news and TV stations. I really hope that the performance is not marred for people like me who bought a ticket just to express appreciation to Ms. Part. I don;t want this turning into a three-ring circus. 

 

I have a feeling they're in for a pretty anticlimactic experience, but I guess we'll see. I'm actually surprised, logistically, that they decided on after. Now these intense fans will have to decide between staying inside for the very last "Brava!" or getting outside to address the largest possible audience. But I suppose logistics isn't really what's driving this.

[sandik]

3 hours ago, ABT Fan said:

 

I don't know. I'm finding this all very circumspect. That would open themselves up to a lawsuit if she was fired like that. She's protected by the union. But, you have a point. Perhaps given that she was let go, Part didn't want any farewell or announcement and management insisted to save face and it took them this long to reach an agreement. But, the fact that nothing was formally issued or programmed until this week only adds to the drama and second-guessing of this entirely awful situation.

 

Some dancers don't want to make a big thing out of their final performances -- it can be a very personal choice.