MAB

In my office we send out embargoed press releases so that the press have our response to major pronouncements in advance. Saves them the trouble of having to ring us and saves us the trouble of a switchboard jammed with calls from journalists. In the wider scheme of things I don't understand why ENB have released in this fashion, after all this news isn't of interest to the wider public anyway.

A trial is a very good example and these things work when something that serious is involved. I work in a press office and although the organization I work for places embargoes on many press releases, these are constantly being breached by both press and politicians. Out of interest, if the new incumbent is unsuitable, will you still offer congratulations?

The internet is one thing but email is something else and I've been sent a copy of the press release that had clearly done the rounds before it got to me. I will play by the rules and not reveal the name here. I will however be forwarding it to everyone I know personally in the ballet world that is interested in ENB.

I have just returned from reading the full discussion over on Dancing Times and found it very enlightening. The initial support from the start of the comments was from the AD of Cork Ballet and a UK ballet critic together with supporters of ENB, then something odd seemed to happen with what appeared to be a text book exercise in trolling when several people with exactly the same writing style claimed to be members of ENB and all these people (or more probably one person) were scathing about Wayne Eagling without explaining exactly why and the debate became somewhat vigorous. Personally I don't have a problem with the tone of the comments as I know many people are passionate about ballet and I think that the pro Wayne people have a strong case for thinking something is amiss where the ENB board is concerned: Dance Europe seems to think so too.

I was told the new director's name would be released after the Easter break, in other words this week.

There is only one name doing the rounds and I share your disbelief, not that the rumour is inaccurate but that anyone would take on such an inexperienced person to run a major company.

Capybara, you have beaten me to it as I just received an e-mail alerting me to the petition and have already signed it. By the way any one signing does so anonymously because although you have to give your name and email to sign it, your name is not published on the site, just added to the total number. That means that any dancers and staff within ENB that also support Wayne Eagling and want him reinstated can do so without worrying about repercussions.

It isn't just Dancing Times that is featuring the Wayne Eagling story. Check out the editorial in the current issue of Dance Europe. They seem very interested in the selection process for Eagling's successor too; apparently the brief window of time given to apply is highly unusual.

If anyone is still more interested in the fate of ENB than poster's user names, you may care to know that I've received a reply from the Arts Council after writing to them yesterday. It was a cop out - my concerns weren't even addressed and they wrote at length about the confidentiality of candidates for Wayne Eagling's job, which was odd because at no point in my letter did I mention possible successors at all. I won't comment further on what I thought of that "considered" reply (or the Arts Council) as I would almost certainly get censored.

Thanks Alison, nice to be remembered and no, I haven't moved. Since reading the Dancing Times letter, I've been inspired to send a letter in a similar vein to the Arts Council: it was not anonymous.

Any dancers from ENB putting their names to this might well jeopardize their future careers. Also, important as the issue may seem to ballet lovers, it is unlikely that a letter to the press would get printed. Personally I'm grateful that there are people out there prepared to take a stand over this regardless of whether they remain anonymous or not.

Signed or not I fully agree with the sentiments expressed.