Bolshoi officials challenge CAMI "Bolshoi" tour.

A group using the name "Bolshoi" for a current tour has no current Bolshoi dancers, no legal connection to the Bolshoi Ballet, and is violating the law by using its name, officials of the Bolshoi Theatre say.

Vladimir Shishmolkin, chief of the international department of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, accused Columbia Artists Management Inc. of violating intellectual property law by using the name "Bolshoi" without authorization. Columbia is promoting a North American tour this winter and spring by a group referred to in promotional literature as "Bolshoi Ballet," "Bolshoi Ballet Ensemble," "Principal Dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet," "Bolshoi Ballet, Ensemble of 50," and "Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet."

"No troupes of artists besides the Bolshoi Ballet have the rights to use the name Bolshoi," Shishmolkin wrote in a February 5 letter to Dance Magazine, supporting the statement with a copy of the Bolshoi Theatre's registration of the term "Bolshoi" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, dated April 25, 1995. "Using the name "Bolshoi" in the advertising of those groups is a violation of the international law of protection of intellectual property," he added. "Columbia Artists is violating the above law.... The Bolshoi Theatre officially broke its relationship with Columbia Artists."

Shishmolkin noted that Andrew Grossman, the senior vice president of Columbia Artists producing the tour, was "notified repeatedly by the leadership of the Bolshoi Theatre about the irregularity of his acts and the illegal use of the name of the Bolshoi Theatre." He added: "There are not any current artists of the Bolshoi in these groups" being promoted by Grossman.

Grossman has not returned repeated phone calls seeking comment on the Bolshoi's allegations. An aide who identified himself as "Robert" and would not give his last name said that Grossman "doesn't speak to the media." The aide promised a statement from Grossman, but by press time, none was forthcoming.

While Columbia refused to release a list of its clients' itineraries, listings sent to Dance Magazine by presenters, interviews, and correspondents' reports reveal the group has engagements through May in at least eleven North American cities: Fort Myers, Tampa, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in February; Jacksonville, Florida, in March; San Juan, Puerto Rico March 6-7; Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville April 11-14; Kansas City, Missouri April 19; Las Vegas, April 22; April 30-May 1 at Cerritos Center in Cerritos, California; May 5 at Lehman Center in Bronx, New York; and May 6 at Fiddler's Green in Denver.

Dance Magazine contacted several of the presenters and read them sections of a letter Bolshoi Theatre artistic director Vladimir Vasiliev addressed to the New York Times, a copy of which was obtained by Dance Magazine. The January 8 letter voiced similar concerns to Shishmolkin's letter, stating that the Columbia tour was unauthorized and in violation of the laws governing use of the Bolshoi name and that the Bolshoi had broken with Columbia. Presenters' reactions ranged from dismissal of Vasiliev's primacy in the Bolshoi hierarchy to outrage at Columbia.

"There's no trademark on the Bolshoi," Mike Durham, programmer for Kentucky Center for the Arts, stated erroneously. "I get the feeling that while Mr. Vasiliev is director, he is in fact doing nothing." Durham provided a copy of a letter from Grossman, dated January 31, which dismissed Bolshoi objections as "in-house bickering and partisan politics created by individuals within the Bolshoi Theatre." Grossman also wrote, "This is to confirm that the Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet performances scheduled to appear as contracted will occur on ... April 11, 12, 13, and 14, 1996." A press release from the Kentucky Center for the Arts identifies the group as "Bolshoi Ballet."

Alun Jones, artistic director of Louisville Ballet, which sold the concert as part of its subscription series, expressed outrage. "We have been lied to by Columbia and indirectly by the Center for the Arts that is presenting them," said Jones. Interviewed in February, Jones said he had not alerted the 5,000 subscribers of any challenge to the group they paid to see. He said even if it is not the real McCoy, subscribers wouldn't know.

Little is known about who will actually be participating in the tour. According to presenter Bob Leith, Jr. of Leith Productions in San Juan, Columbia provided a poster which advertised: "Direct from the Bolshoi Theatre, Russia, Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet, featuring Bolshoi Ballet Ensemble Company of 50." The poster also promises the participation of Viacheslav Gordeyev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet under Vasiliev. A poster for a concert in Jacksonville March 9 promises "Direct from the Bolshoi Theatre, Russia, Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet, Vatcheslav Gordeev, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet." Shishmolkin said Gordeyev will not be participating in the Columbia tour.

Jack Globenfelt, managing director of Lehman Center, faxed to Dance Magazine pages from what he said was a contract with Columbia. The contract was signed only by Globenfelt. Under "Billing" the document stated, "The ensemble shall be advertised as follows: Columbia Artists Presents Direct from the Bolshoi Theatre, Russia, Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet, Featuring NATALIA BESSMERTNOVA, Prima Ballerina, and the BOLSHOI BALLET Ensemble COMPANY of 50, Artistic Director Yuri Grigorovich." Grigorovich was deposed from his position last spring, and Bessmertnova departed with him.

Globenfelt said he would have to be notified by the Bolshoi directly to consider any cancellation. "Until I receive official notification, I can't take any action." Val Golovitser, Vasiliev's representative in North America, said it was the presenters' responsibility to check the legitimacy of the Columbia group with the Bolshoi.

The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts sent Dance Magazine a calendar listing advertising "PRINCIPAL DANCERS OF THE BOLSHOI BALLET, featuring the Bolshoi Ballet Ensemble Company of 50." "We have a contract with Columbia Artists under that name," said marketing director Walter Morlock. As Dance Magazine was going to press, a Cerritos spokeswoman called and read what she said was a statement from executive director Victor Gotesman. "The Cerritos Center for the Arts will be presenting the principal dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet April 30 and May 1," spokes-woman Lori Yonan quoted Gotesman as stating. Asked if she knew who the dancers were, Yonan answered, "No." Asked if Cerritos had checked with the Bolshoi in Moscow to see if the Columbia group was legitimate, she answered, "No, our contract is with Columbia Artists."

Denver presenter Barry Fey, provided with a copy of Vasiliev's letter, said, "If we can't use the name Bolshoi, it ain't worth anything."