Sad news from Laura Casey in the Alameda Times-Star:

Alameda Times-Star

Very sad, though not unexpected news.

This is a prime example of how not to run a ballet company. I think their intentions were always right, but their programming was spotty, their management style was not very employee friendly, and their fund-raising was inconsistent. Three strikes and you're out?

Sad news indeed. I think a lot of people hoped they would be able to pull together this season.

This is sad news, especially given that Oakland plays a part in the international ballet scene: the version of Nijinska's "Les Noces" set on the company is the one performed by most of the leading companies around the world, including the Kirov.

The message from Dance/USA also gives food for thought:



I suspect that Oakland will not be alone over the coming year or so.

I think you're right Stuart. I hate to say it, but there is more than one company teetering on the edge.

Makes it all the more impressive that SFB has run in the black for so many years!

I found their programming to be rather inspiring, especially the variety and scope of music and musicians who were brought in, given the small size of the company. My impression has been that KB thought about her small company in large company terms, and perhaps that's why her expectations of the dancers were unrealistic: she was pushing with everything she had. Given the size of the company and the generally miserable state of fiscal affairs in the City of Oakland (cf the schools in receivership, etc.), I think that the fundraising and outreach efforts undertaken were ambitious, creative and overall, pretty impressive. The number of non-white audience members compared to San Francisco Ballet attendees shows us that the art form appeals to one and all when an effort is made to bring in broad audiences. It sounds like the closure of the Calvin Simmons Theatre is what broke OB's back. The company had a great season compared to many others of its size, and was making a comeback. The venue crisis in the Bay Area hits the smaller companies hardest, and it looks like Oakland Ballet really got slammed by this--it's kind of their own private Katrina. If I were Governor of California, every company would receive state support--as much as each could justify, and there would be a very low ceiling on theater rent.

Assuming that things in California are structured in a way similar to the various states in which I've lived, none of that is under the Governor's jurisdiction.

State support must be appropriated by the legislature (although the Governor can certainly urge them to do so). Theatre rents are set by the owners of the venues -- either local county or municipal governments or private owners.

Most of the theatres with which I'm familiar do have a lower rate for not-for-profit tenants.

Rachel Howard adds some perspective to the announcement in the San Francisco Chronicle:

SF Chronicle

I can't speak too much on the way the dancers were treated, but I can speak to the way KB treated her artistic and admin staff, which in a word is badly. Do keep a company running you need a dedicated staff willing to do more than necessary to keep the company going. That is one of the ways SFB has stayed in the black: a dedicated staff that is treated well and recognized for their sacrifices. Oakland did not have that and they have suffered the consequences. There were sao many structural problems in the organization it was bound to fall.

The programming may have been inspiring to to Toba, but obviously there aren't enough Toba's out there. KB seemed to be trying to light a fire under the ethnically diverse communities in Oakland with some of her programming, but they somehow did not seem to jump up and buy ballet tickets.

The loss of their historic repertory is tragic. I am very sad about that. Their performance of "Jinx" a few years ago was stronger and truer than SFB's the same season, I heard from my sources. I don't see the possibility of any company being able to fill the void left by Oakland Ballet's demise.

I am also disappointed in the City of Oakland for not seeming to care much about the retention of one of its most important performing arts institutions.

I guess I'm just disappointed about the whole thing. I was kind of rooting for their success.

Oakland East Bay Symphony music director Michael Morgan hoists the flag for the arts in Oakland in an attempt to counteract the negative bounce, in the Oakland Tribune:

Oakland Tribune

Well, it's certainly refreshing to see a classical musician acknowledge that there are other art forms besides music.

Another article about OB's closing.

I'm annoyed. If there had been this much press about the troubles, maybe it would have delayed the closing? I hate the press...


OK, that's an overstatement. I'm just bitter today.



more...

And another.



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An editorial in the Oakland Tribune:

Oakland Tribune Editorial

I had a long telephone conversation with KB about a year ago and I remember how enthusiastic and optimistic she was about the company's future. I'm thinking that if just one thing had happened differently, the company might have survived.

If Nutcracker had drawn well, it might have made a difference.

If the theatre hadn't been closed down, it might have made a difference.

If there had been more (and more vocal) public support from civic leaders before the collapse, it might have made a difference.

I really would have liked to have seen the ballet based on the Port Chicago mutiny.