Boston Ballet Refuses to Fall :: Dance Dancing Papers

Boston Ballet Refuses to Fall What happens when a ballet company’s classic Christmas tradition is unwrapped, discarded, and replaced with a glitzy and glamorous moneymaking expenditure? Many dance enthusiasts are left with this lingering question as The Boston Ballet struggles with a recent announcement from the Wang Theatre, its lifelong performance home, that next year’s production of the Nutcracker is being replaced by a touring show of the infamous Radio City Rockettes. "Im pretty certain this decision was driven by money, which draws the question in everyone’s minds: Which is more important, tradition or money?† said Andrew Kaminski. Kaminski is a Boston Ballet II member and performs in the corp de ballet with the company. He joined this apprentice position in August of 2003 and thinks Mikko Nissinen, the Boston Ballet’s new artistic director, is doing great things for the company. " I really like the direction we are headed in but unfortunately Mikko has been dealt some unfair dealings. I am just grateful the company has been so open with us about everything,† Kaminski said. According to Kaminski, the company was informed of what was happening with the Wang Theatre at the end of October. During this time, a company meeting was held and a Boston Ballet Memo was distributed to the dancers from Valerie Wilder, the Executive Director of the Boston Ballet. â€Å"Basically the Wang informed us they had signed a note of intent with Radio City. We were immediately notified after this. We were told the Wang wanted to bring in the Rockettes for monetary reasons. Touring companies are more profitable. The Wang can charge them more plus the tickets are more expensive,† Kaminski said. The memo to the company included general facts about the Nutcracker’s current situation and its history. It also had a section titled, â€Å"Further Talking Points,† which expressed the company’s opinions on the situation. â€Å"In choosing to align itself with a touring production, the Wang Center is undermining a 35- year-old tradition and the work of a resident ensemble with year- round presence in the community. The Wang has thus placed commercial interests over cultural purpose, which is inconsistent with its mission as a not-for-profit,† the memo stated. The Boston Ballet Company is a non-profit organization, which hosts a dance school that trains young children through adults and a renowned ballet company that has artistically entertained the city since 1965. On their IRS form 990 filing, the company stated their objectives for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 2003.