A rift between Ballet West and Jonas Kage.Jonas Kage, artistic director of Ballet West Ballet West, Salt Lake City, Utah was founded in 1963 by Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. Willam F. Christensen was its first artistic director and also established the first ballet department in an American university at the University of Utah in 1951. for nine years, is leaving under a cloud of controversy. With one year left on his contract, Kage has taken a gentlemanly, but unblinking stand against the board of directors and executive director Johann Jacobs. Kage, the sleek Swedish dancer who was a principal at American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre, one of the foremost international dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded in 1937 as the Mordkin Ballet and reorganized as the Ballet Theatre in 1940 under the direction of Lucia Chase and Rich Pleasant. in the 1970s, has made it clear that he was terminated and did not resign, as was first reported by Ballet West in May. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kage's account in The Salt Lake Tribune, the board told him that his job assessment was overwhelmingly negative, and presented him with two pre-prepared press releases that gave him the option to resign or be fired. The results of the evaluation have never been revealed to the community or the press, and Kage's supporters are suspicious of its accuracy. The administration of Ballet West is refusing to speak to the press. Administrative manager Annie Van Alstyne, who has been with BW for 18 years, was immediately fired for leaking information. Kage's departure has polarized A one-way direction of a signal or the molecules within a material pointing in one direction. the dance community in Salt Lake City. Detractors say that his choice of contemporary rep was too dated for the chic audiences yet too risky for families and older patrons, and that he was out of touch with the dancers. But another faction feels that the board and executive director want him out for personal reasons. Pamela Robinson-Harris, a former principal dancer A principal dancer is similar to a soloist in dance. However, principals are hired by a ballet or dance company to perform not only solos, but also pas de deux. A principal may be male or female. and current ballet mistress bal´let` mis´tress n. 1. a woman who trains ballet dancers. Noun 1. ballet mistress - a woman who directs and teaches and rehearses dancers for a ballet company , will serve as interim artistic director. All along, the board has maintained they have no argument with Kage's artistic product. Indeed, a recent program in June showed the dramatic range of the repertoire with ballets by Balanchine, Tudor, and Hans van Manen Hans van Manen (Nieuwer-Amstel, Netherlands, 11 July 1932) is a Dutch ballet dancer, choreographer and photographer. He is a son of a German housemaid. He studied under Sonia Gaskell, Françoise Adret and Nora Kiss. Hans van Manen wrote many ballets. . Since the board refuses to answer what it did object to, one possible answer is fiscal irresponsibility. Although season subscriptions are up, the company had to make cuts in administrative salaries, reduce the number of dancers, and eliminate the fall repertory program. But whose job is it to watch the bottom line? Dance Magazine's Clive Barnes Clive Barnes (born May 13, 1927) in London, Oxford educated, chief Dance, Drama and Opera critic for the New York Post, is a colorful writer and broadcaster, whose career has been long and prolific. , who reviewed the June program (see www.dancemagazine.com.), says that it is not the artistic director's job to raise money. "The first duty of the board is to raise money. The second duty of the board is to raise money. And the third duty of the board is to tell the world how much money it has raised." According to Ballet West supporter Bob McComas, 250 local businesses and foundations have never been contacted for financial support, including one of the largest arts supporters, the Sorensen Foundation. Kage, the father of a teenage dancer-daughter, still speaks about plans for the company's future before catching himself in mid-sentence. He wanted to educate the community in contemporary ballet Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointework from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of , bringing them along slowly, while continuing to stage the crowd-pleasers. As for next year: "I think it would be nice to go be a sheepherder in Sweden," Kage laughs. "I've always loved the beauty of nature and the out-of-doors, but I can't stay away from dance. It is such a thrill to see the dancers develop or to form a successful production. But I also have to think about my family. So we'll just have to see." Just before presstime press·time n. The time at which a publication, especially a newspaper, is submitted for printing. , Ballet West announced that a resolution was reached, but that "all parties have agreed not to make any further statements. |
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