FIONA MORROW
VANCOUVER — Globe and Mail Update Published on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 3:34PM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 9:15PM EDT
Ballet BC has laid off its entire company.
The move affects 38 staff, including dancers, administrative, artistic and contract staff. Artistic director John Alleyne has also had his contract terminated.
The announcement comes two weeks before dancers were due for their annual holiday layoff Dec. 12 to Jan 5. Ballet BC has also cancelled the scheduled January performances of Universal Ballet of Korea's Swan Lake .
"The severity of the economic crisis became clear in late October," said Graeme Barrit, chairman of the ballet's board of directors, at a press conference in Vancouver. At that point, targets for subscriptions had missed by $150,000 and ticket sales for the first two ballets in the 2008/09 season missed their targets by $120,000.
Mr. Barrit said that the board had met with all levels of government, from Ottawa to Vancouver city council, and had been advised to proceed with financial "caution and prudence." A council meeting later Tuesday in Vancouver will discuss a proposal from the city's arts managers to help with the $63,000 rent required for December's production of Moscow City Ballet's The Nutcracker .
A severe drop in projected ticket sales for The Nutcracker partly precipitated the drastic action taken, Mr. Barrit confirmed. Only 2,000 seats have been sold for the holiday classic; Ballet BC had expected sales to have reached 5,000 by now.
"The Nutcracker has the ability to save Ballet BC," he added, noting the company must sell 7,000 tickets if it is to return in January to continue its season.
But even if they do make their target, it will only be a temporary reprieve. "It gives us time to look for an angel investor," he said, adding that the company need donations to reach at least $500,000, and realistically $1-million to secure a future.
The news was given to staff at a meeting later yesterday afternoon in Vancouver, where they were told the current season was postponed until further notice.
"Everybody has gone, from top to bottom," said dancer Connor Gnam. "It was the biggest shock of my life."
Mr. Gnam's brother, James was also a dancer in the company. "It's much worse for him," said Mr. Gnam. "He has a one-year-old-child and provides the family income."
A number of the company are from overseas and could potentially lose their visas.
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