SPOLETO MAY LOSE BILL T. JONES.

THE SHOW must go on, said organizers of this year's Spoleto Festival USA, with or without one of its main attractions: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Jones announced in March that he might cancel his performance in support of an economic boycott of Charleston, South Carolina, where the festival is slated to run May 26-June 11. The state branch of the NAACP organized the boycott to protest the flying of the Confederate battle flag over the state's capitol. Jones's company is scheduled to present a mixed-repertory program June 9 at the festival, which draws big-ticket performers and big revenues to the region.

The NAACP and its supporters have termed the flag a symbol of slavery and bigotry. The Spoleto board's executive committee agreed, and issued a public statement indicating its strong support for the flag's removal. However, the statement asked all scheduled artists to continue participating despite the NAACP boycott, because "the Festival strongly believes the arts have a unique ability to stimulate debate, draw people together, and ultimately to change them in ways that nothing else can."

Although Spoleto spokesperson Marie Lawson said at presstime that the festival would continue to sell tickets for the company's performance, it was still uncertain whether the Jones/Zane troupe would actually perform. If the flag is removed before the legislative session's conclusion June 1 and the boycott is lifted, Jones indicated that the company will probably dance. If not, he has arranged with Spoleto general director Nigel Redden to cancel his contract without penalty or ill will. Redden, who expressed personal opposition to the flag's display, extended the same offer to other scheduled companies, although he did say that empty stages "will ultimately be a self-defeating protest. I believe artists should speak through their work rather than through their silence."

In a statement released to the L.A. Times, Jones said, "I support the NAACP in its call for sanctions as a means of bringing an end to the State of South Carolina's troubling acquiescence to a historical symbol with brutal associations hurtful to many. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company finds it impossible to participate in the Spoleto Festival until the NAACP chooses to end this boycott. We are monitoring events in the hope a solution can be reached before the date of our performance. Jones was not available for further comment, and no other companies, including this year's dance entries--Cullberg Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens du Montreal, and Susan Marshall and Company--had withdrawn from the festival at presstime.