CriticalDance Forum

Article in the Scotsman<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>MSPs are set to challenge the controversial merger between Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera, after conducting an inquiry into the dance company's proposed change in artistic direction. <BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=011008005808&query=ballet" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE... </B> </A><BR>

Article in the Edinburgh News<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>North's not content to toe the line <P>Thom Dibdin <P>ROBERT NORTH is a bitter man. As Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet he has done everything that he was appointed to do. He has reinvigorated the company, putting the spring back into the step of its dancers who believe passionately in the direction it is taking. <BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.edinburghnews.com/news.cfm?id=en9999life2&rware=ICXYHNXMTZJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE... </B> </A><p>[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited October 11, 2001).]

Article in the Scotsman<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>Scottish Ballet's website censored<P>James Doherty <P>THE debate surrounding the future of troubled Scottish Ballet intensified last night after it was revealed that a website run by dancers has been edited amid threats of legal action.<BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=116711&rware=JVYCQTZFOAJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A>

Today's article in the Scotsman.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>SCOTTISH Ballet is forging ahead with controversial plans to reposition itself as a contemporary rather than traditional company with the approval of a new draft business plan.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=117250&rware=HZXCLMDMPAJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A>

Article in the Scotsman about funding<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>SCOTTISH Ballet was criticised again last night after reports that it wants a further £1 million of public money to fund its controversial transformation into a contemporary dance company. The company, which already receives £2.8 million a year from the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), refused to rule out the possibility of asking for an extra £1 million when it submits its budget plan to the SAC next month. <BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=117837&rware=PAUAMOZGTAJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A>

Article in The Scoysman about a petition against the changes at Scottish Ballet<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>PRESSURE mounted yesterday on Scottish Ballet to abandon its proposed change in artistic direction as 60 dance pupils handed in a petition to the Scottish parliament. <P><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=118478&rware=JAVBLUGMVAJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B>MORE </B> </A>

Michael Clarke has eye on top job at Scottish Ballet. Article in Scotland on Sunday.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> HE’LL probably get the bum’s rush. Michael Clark - the man who brought bare bottoms to the rarefied world of dance - wants to run Scottish Ballet. <P>The former heroin addict, who delights in shocking his audience, says he is ready for the job of artistic director at the troubled company and says he thinks he will "go for it". <BR><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/index.cfm?id=SS01042085&rware=PVXDMLBJOBJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A><P>And another article in Scotland on Sunday that summarises the crisis at present.<P><A HREF="http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/index.cfm?id=SS01042067&rware=PVXDMLBJOBJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=2" TARGET=_blank> <B> CONTEMPORARY THREAT </B> </A><p>[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited October 28, 2001).]

An article in the Scotsman about a Parliamentary reviews findings.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><BR>A PARLIAMENTARY report into Scottish Ballet’s controversial decision to reposition itself as a contemporary dance outfit will be highly critical of the company’s board, The Scotsman has learned <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=119451&rware=NDSVIUCHPBJV&CQ_CUR_DOCUMENT=1" TARGET=_blank> <B> MORE </B> </A>

A new twist in the Scottish Ballet saga:<P><B>Huge rise in ballet audiences</B><BR>By James Doherty in The Scotsman<P><BR>THE outgoing artistic director of Scottish Ballet last night urged the company’s board to reverse its proposals to change artistic direction after new figures showed audiences have increased by more than half in the last year. <P>Robert North said that the increase showed ballet-lovers did not want the company being transformed into a contemporary dance outfit. <P>The Scotsman has learned that the latest figures, from the Scottish Arts Council, show an increase from 43,000 to more than 66,000 in the last financial year. At the same time, contemporary dance companies in Scotland attracted an audience of little more than 3,000 between them. <P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=119874&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A><P><B>Scottish Ballet in a spin</B><BR>Also from The Scotsman<P><BR>ROBERT North is artistic director of Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s classical dance company. He has been in the post for two years. Evidently, he has done a good job because he was able to announce yesterday that audiences for Scottish Ballet have increased by fully one third in the past year, from 43,000 to 66,000. He has brought these large audiences in to see such favourites as Romeo and Juliet. However, Mr North has been told by the Scottish Ballet board that he will not have his contract renewed because, without reference to Mr North or his dancers, the whole raison d’être of the company has been changed summarily. <P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/searchresults.cfm?id=119730&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A><BR>

<P>Pauline Reid with Liorah, who wants to perform in Swan Lake in Glasgow.<P><BR><B>Dancing to a different tune<P>James Doherty for The Scotsman</B><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>HER dream is to be a ballerina, to grace the stage of the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, and perform in Swan Lake while her proud family looks on. <P>However, if the controversial decision of Scottish Ballet to cease production of classics in favour of more contemporary dance goes ahead, ten-year-old Liorah Reid fears that dream will never be realised. <P>And like the eponymous Billy Elliot of the film, she fears her goal may only be achieved on a stage far from her native Ardrossan. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=120110&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited October 31, 2001).]

Some responses by reader sof the Scotsman to articles earlier in the week: <A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/searchresults.cfm?id=120495&keyword=dance" TARGET=_blank><B>click through</B></A>

I raised an eyebrow too when I saw the 3,000 figure. But when I looked back at the article, the number applied to, '...contemporary dance companies in Scotland...'. Although this is ambiguous, I assume that they are referring to indigenous Scottish companies. Even then, assuming an average audience of 250 for contemporary dance audiences we come up with only 12 performances. It looks as though there may be something wrong with that figure.

<B>3,500 sign ballet petition</B><P>by James Reynolds of The Scotsman<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>SCOTTISH Ballet found itself at the heart of debate yesterday as a second parliamentary committee considered the controversial proposals to reposition it as a modern dance outfit. <P>Mary Darke, a former ballerina and chair of the Royal Academy of Dance Scottish Region, submitted a 3,500-signature document to the public petitions committee opposing the ballet’s change in artistic direction and calling for the plans to be scrapped. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=121339&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><BR>

More disruptions in the arts super-structure in Scotland which could have implications for the fate of Scottish Ballet:<P><B>Arts chief may face sack after criticism of policy</B><P>Mike Wade<BR>The Scotsman<BR> <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>THE future of the director of the Scottish Arts Council appeared bleak last night after a series of public rows over policy.<P>Tessa Jackson, who criticised parts of the Scottish executive’s national cultural strategy, may face the sack from the chairman of the SAC, James Boyle.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=121960&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><P>

Tessa Jackson, Director of Scottish Arts Council continues the bitter debate of contemporary versus ballet for the future of the Scottish Ballet.Here Ms Jackson responds to an earlier report in the Scotsman (see above) in which the audience firgures for each of the dance disciplines is compared:<P><B>Attendance figures</B><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>With reference to your report, "3,500 sign ballet petition" (7 November), the attendance figures quoted have been presented out of context.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/searchresults.cfm?id=122177&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><P>And Scottish Ballet's Chief Executive, Christopher Barron, responds to the various reports which have appeared over the last weeks:<P><B>Classical roots</B><P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In response to letters and comments over the past few weeks, a number of valid points have been made, and I would like to respond. <P>It has always been Scottish Ballet’s intention to nurture its classical roots in the new proposals, and include the elements of classical repertoire that the company’s size allows. Our priority is to produce dance that is both artistically re-warding and financially viable. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/searchresults.cfm?id=122133&keyword=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><BR> <P>