a 'balanchine company'?

http://www.arizonarepublic.com:80/ae/articles/1008balanchine08.html
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<small>[ 09-06-2002, 09:10: Message edited by: Azlan ]</small>

I have often wondered why (and so have many others) dance - ballet - has had such a hard time in the Southwestern part of the United States. Los Angeles is third largest city, isn't it? San Diego is 6th largest - and they are only 120 miles apart - with wealthy Orange County in between. <P>Though the symphony has had several near-deaths and resurrections here in San Diego, the opera has done quite well. It has, to my knowledge, a quite stable subscriber season. It also has a very aggressive marketing agenda and a committed board of directors. It's very competently run, from what I can see, by an Australian - wouldn't ya know!!<P>What's wrong with dance? Some pundits have opined in the past that in this area there is so much competing for the public's leisure time and funds. The weather is conducive to year round outdoor activity, even in the evening. But Miami City Ballet, seems to do quite well, and there are no heavy winters there. One could say this area has a large Southeast Asian culture (Vietnamese/Cambodian) and a large Hispanic (mostly Mexican) culture - which does not include the ballet amongs its activities. But the problems ballet has faced here predate the growth of these communities. Support of the performing arts just seems more ingrained on the East Coast, plus San Francisco (which really seems to be an east coast city that drifted west). In Philadelphia season tickets to the Philadelphia orchestra are a part of the heritage that parents give their children. Philadelphia also supports the Pennsyvlania Ballet and an opera company. <P>In San Diego we don't even get the national companies when they tour - that would help whet the public's appetite. At one time we did - but the theater management here managed to kill that. This is part of the equation - if Ballet Arizona could also have a home here in San Diego, or a season here - or San Jose Ballet - wouldn't that be helpful? And then there's all those people in Los Angeles. The "numbers" seem to be here - but not the appetite.

Successful comeback or false hope?<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Once near death, Ballet Arizona is back on its toes</B><P>Kenneth LaFave, Arizona Republic<P>It's not yet all bright lights and happy smiles, but Ballet Arizona is looking more like a viable company and less like the trauma patient it was nearly a year ago.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.azcentral.com/rep/arts/articles/0715ballet15.html" TARGET=_blank><B>More</B></A>

I'm glad the company went public to save itself. Too often I've seen companies fold quietly because the collective ego of the AD and/or funders/board members prevents them from admitting the embarassment of fiscal mismanagement:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In September 2000, it was announced that the state's only fully professional classical dance company could not make payroll and was a few days away from collapse. A sudden influx of cash from patrons saved the company...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited July 16, 2001).]

Wow...I'm behind the times. When did Ib Andersen become artistic director of Ballet Arizona? The last time I saw him, he was doing entrechat dix onstage at the New York City Ballet in one of those "flowery" Bournonville thingies!!<BR>PS. What happened to Michael Uthoff? Anybody know? (former AD?)

Ballet stays on its toes despite economy
When Ballet Arizona leaps into a new season from a record-breaking year, the question is: How to keep dancing with success? By Anne Robertson for The Business Journal (Phoenix)


Subscriptions rose by 50 percent, to 2,500, during the 2002-03 season, officials said.

But in stressed-out economic times, many cultural nonprofits find it hard to lure the funding necessary to stay afloat. The ballet operates on an annual budget of $3 million, half of which comes from donations and half from ticket sales.

The ballet starts in October with preseason shows, and performs from November through June.

click for more

The ballet cuts costs by consolidating with its school:

Ballet Arizona and its school complete merger early
Ruben Hernandez, The Phoenix Business Journal

Ballet Arizona receives a helpful boost from the editorial page of the Arizona Republic:

Arizona Republic Editorial