Category: dance

The mother of the Boston Ballet dancer who died possibly of an eating disorder is planning to sue the company, claiming the company’s “insistence on thinness caused her daughter’s untimely death.” – Boston Herald

It’s official – Cleveland San Jose Ballet shuts down and moves to liquidate its assets to pay creditors. But not to pay season subscribers, however. Ticket-holders will be given vouchers that they can exchange for some other local arts events. – The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

Something new is happening in dance. “The cool, formal abstractness of body movement of the past 30 years, American in origin, is being overtaken by a new, psychoanalytical, emotional approach from Europe, where feelings matter more than aesthetics.” – The Telegraph (London)

Boston Ballet has been through some difficult times of late. But the company is embarking on an ambitious five-year plan to boost attendance, build an endowment and perhaps partner in the construction of a new $150 million theatre. – Boston Herald

Gag orders, secrecy, defensiveness. Boston Ballet’s leadership prefers to conduct its business outside the glare of public scrutiny, writes one reporter. – Boston Herald

It’s taken 11 years to put it together, but former New York City Ballet star Suzanne Farrell’s new 19-member company debuted at last week’s Balanchine Festival at the Kennedy Center. “Reviews of her company have been generally rapturous, a two-week Kennedy Center engagement is already set for next fall, and a related tour is being planned.” – Los Angeles Times

• REVIEW of Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center. Los Angeles Times 09/19/00

Europeans love French choreographer Maurice Béjart’s work. Not the British or Americans though. “Critics in Britain and America say he’s a poseur who trashes the values of classical music and dance for the sake of cheap theatrical thrills.” – The Independent (UK)

“Birmingham is England’s second city, and the company is its second Royal Ballet, but David Bintley plays that position to advantage. ‘I like being part of a company which — how should I put this? — which is never thought of as being the best, because we are not the ‘real’ Royal Ballet at home in Covent Garden. So we have the fun of coming from behind’.” – The New York Times

Cleveland San Jose Ballet company dancers vote to form a new company and relocate to San Jose. The Cleveland San Jose company was shut down last week after failing to raise enough money to continue. The new company will be called Ballet San Jose of Silcon Valley and open its new season October 12. – San Francisco Examiner

As expected, yesterday Boston Ballet named Maina Gielgud as the company’s new artistic director. The Boston troupe, said officials, also has an ambitious new five-year plan designed to make it ‘one of the five best ballet companies in the world’.” – Boston Globe

• RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: “Audiences want to see stars. Like choreographers, stars are, in the first place, born. But then they need to be developed and nurtured. They need to be found.” – Boston Herald 09/15/00