More problems at New York City Ballet

[Pas de Quatre]

One major difference between NYCB and RB is the length of contracts and therefore the amount of rehearsal time available. Like most big European companies, contracts are full year. NYCB are only work and get paid for 40 weeks in the year, and many USA companies are less.

[capybara]

Today's edition of The Times carries a photo of the NYCB accuser and her former boyfriend (both named) in order to illustrate the increasing popularity of dresses with pockets among young women.

[Xandra Newman]

I understand how you feel Bruce Wall 

 

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”

― Charles Bukowski

 

[Lizbie1]

1 hour ago, capybara said:

Today's edition of The Times carries a photo of the NYCB accuser and her former boyfriend (both named) in order to illustrate the increasing popularity of dresses with pockets among young women.

 

That's pretty special work.

[munchkin16]

4 hours ago, capybara said:

Today's edition of The Times carries a photo of the NYCB accuser and her former boyfriend (both named) in order to illustrate the increasing popularity of dresses with pockets among young women.

I saw this too and was incredibly surprised anyone thought it was an appropriate photo to use. 

[capybara]

1 hour ago, munchkin16 said:

I saw this too and was incredibly surprised anyone thought it was an appropriate photo to use. 

 

Clearly noone was 'thinking' and at least some of the contributors to The Times do not read their own paper.

[Ian Macmillan]

When going through this morning's Times, as a fashion-related thing, the article did not catch my eye.  However, the point having been made here, I've now looked again.  There's no mention of the NYCB allegations or anything of the sort there and, in my copy, Mr Chase is NOT named but referred to as "her ex-boyfriend."  However, I agree that it's a regrettable choice by whichever editor thought to include it at this time.  That said, I doubt that even 1% of the readership will be aware of any current relevance.

[John Mallinson]

Ian, are you saying that 99% of Times readers are cultural illiterates? Tut, tut.

 

[assoluta]

On 30/08/2018 at 06:31, stella said:

 

New York City Ballet performs 60 ballets a year, and I’ve often seen their dancers claim in interviews to have only 2 to 3 weeks rehearsal of a ballet before a performance.

 

60? Can you explain your figure? 2 to 3 weeks rehearsal for a typical one-act plotless ballet is fine in most cases.

[Bruce Wall]

Ashley Bouder, a long-standing and much admired principal with NYCB, has spoken here.  

 

Edited September 9, 2018 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

For the record, Ramasar and Catazaro have now been fired by NYCB.  Source

 

Amar Ramasar responds here. 

Edited September 16, 2018 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

I am very surprised that the NYCB Board (who are themselves currently responsible for NYCB hiring and firing as opposed to the 'interim artistic team') have not insisted that the following film segment - [initiated by Sarah Jessica Parker - currently a Vice Chairman of that august body - and who is, of course, best known for the television series 'Sex and the City'] -  on 'The Men at NYCB' be taken down.  Many of the words spoken now sound distinctly and certainly ironically sour.  Let this be a warning that this kind of film - however well made in and of itself - can  come back to bite if not specifically framed and pertinent to a specific artistic/creative work.  Megan Fairchild's facial response in light of the comments of her now ex-husband's comments herein sums it up for me.  Well done girl.  Moreover Peter Martins' words at the tail end in an advertising excerpt for 'the next episode' now sound hugely prophetic - OR CERTAINLY SHOULD - given the intervening suggested occurrences. 

 

 

Edited September 17, 2018 by Bruce Wall

[Jan McNulty]

Do you think this mini-film should be taken down Bruce?

[Bruce Wall]

Didn't I say that, Janet???? .... "I am very surprised that the NYCB Board ... have not insisted that the following film segment .... on 'The Men at NYCB' be taken down.'  ..... I realise of course that the interim clauses makes the actual statement itself convoluted.  Blame it on a 'Latinate' education  

[bangorballetboy]

1 minute ago, Bruce Wall said:

Didn't I say that, Janet???? .... "I am very surprised that the NYCB Board ... have not insisted that the following film segment .... on 'The Men at NYCB' be taken down.'  ..... I realise of course that the interim clauses makes the actual statement itself convoluted.  Blame it on a 'Latinate' education  

 

No you didn't say that.  You asked a question as to whether the board should require it to be taken down.  That's not the same thing as whether or not you think it should be taken down.

[Bruce Wall]

Forgive me, bangorballetboy, but to me it looks like a statement, e.g., - 'I'm very surprised that ... '  I would have thought that implies that I believe they should.  ....  Still this is all semantics.  Not to worry.  Have a great day. 

Edited September 17, 2018 by Bruce Wall

[Ian Macmillan]

If I might be permitted a moment of reflection, I have often thought that the lengthy, periodic sentence, when well constructed - and here I think of the late Bernard Levin's regular articles in The Times, often on the satisfactions wrought for him by Wagner, or perhaps revealing that, once dead, the name of Kiri Te Kanawa might be found engraved upon his heart - is something of an art, one requiring much revision and polishing such that, once one reaches an end, one has carried one's readers to a clear and unambiguous conclusion.  Or something of the sort.

 

(In my early RAF Staff Training written exercises, I recall a comment that my style might be better suited to Time magazine and that I'd need to rein things in and simplify!  To what extent I succeeded, I must leave to others to decide.)

[Jan McNulty]

2 hours ago, Bruce Wall said:

Didn't I say that, Janet???? .... "I am very surprised that the NYCB Board ... have not insisted that the following film segment .... on 'The Men at NYCB' be taken down.'  ..... I realise of course that the interim clauses makes the actual statement itself convoluted.  Blame it on a 'Latinate' education  

 

If you think it should be taken down I fail to understand why you brought attention to it by linking it.  That was the reason for my question!

[Bruce Wall]

I see, Janet.  It's not up to me .... What do I know.  I attached it to see if others - such as your good self - might feel the same.  Thanks so, as ever, for your kind response  As ever it means so much not just to me but to all.  Bless you.  

[Bruce Wall]

11 minutes ago, Ian Macmillan said:

If I might be permitted a moment of reflection, I have often thought that the lengthy, periodic sentence, when well constructed - and here I think of the late Bernard Levin's regular articles in The Times, often on the satisfactions wrought for him by Wagner, or perhaps revealing that, once dead, the name of Kiri Te Kanawa might be found engraved upon his heart - is something of an art, one requiring much revision and polishing such that, once one reaches an end, one has carried one's readers to a clear and unambiguous conclusion.  Or something of the sort.

 

(In my early RAF Staff Training written exercises, I recall a comment that my style might be better suited to Time magazine and that I'd need to rein things in and simplify!  To what extent I succeeded, I must leave to others to decide.)

 

Bless you, Ian.  That's fantastic.  Now what, I wonder, would it look like in 'text-speak'?  As with the RAF - so much - including those training sessions - will have changed forever I'm sure    There's still part of me that is very glad to have been born when I was.  

[bangorballetboy]

48 minutes ago, Ian Macmillan said:

If I might be permitted a moment of reflection, I have often thought that the lengthy, periodic sentence, when well constructed - and here I think of the late Bernard Levin's regular articles in The Times, often on the satisfactions wrought for him by Wagner, or perhaps revealing that, once dead, the name of Kiri Te Kanawa might be found engraved upon his heart - is something of an art, one requiring much revision and polishing such that, once one reaches an end, one has carried one's readers to a clear and unambiguous conclusion.  Or something of the sort.

 

(In my early RAF Staff Training written exercises, I recall a comment that my style might be better suited to Time magazine and that I'd need to rein things in and simplify!  To what extent I succeeded, I must leave to others to decide.)

 

As I read this, I'm also thinking of the late Clement Freud on Just a Minute.

 

Of course, life moves on.  In my industry, we are now taught to write in clear English.  It's better to write in sentences of no more than 20 words and to avoid the passive, where possible.  We should also avoid jargon, words in Latin, verbosity and phrases which can be better expressed using fewer, clearer words.

 

Doesn't always work, mind!

[bridiem]

22 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

 

As I read this, I'm also thinking of the late Clement Freud on Just a Minute.

 

Of course, life moves on.  In my industry, we are now taught to write in clear English.  It's better to write in sentences of no more than 20 words and to avoid the passive, where possible.  We should also avoid jargon, words in Latin, verbosity and phrases which can be better expressed using fewer, clearer words.

 

Doesn't always work, mind!

 

And leads to a rather dull use of language! Clear English is indeed good for most work purposes, but for personal communications it's nice to have a bit of variety.

[Bruce Wall]

Again for the record, Amar Ramasar has further commented as he had promised here.  

 

The actual civil case filed can be found here.   (I'll refrain from commenting on the literate style employed therein.  It speaks for itself I think.)  

 

 

Edited September 17, 2018 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

To be complete, there is now a supplemental summons here. It is marked as 'processed'.  

[now voyager]

It is the amended complaint that contains more detail about the offending (and IMO highly offensive) texts and images exchanged among the defendants (who, as the supplemental summons indicates, now include Ramasar, Catazaro & the previously unidentified donor).

I was appalled when I read the original complaint. After reading the amended one, I am now sick to my stomach.

[Bruce Wall]

So nice that the NYCB winter season opened this week.  A chance to dwell on some positives.  

 

 

[Ian Macmillan]

In parenthesis: https://twitter.com/MadisonKeesler/status/1042650593511129089

 

 

[Bruce Wall]

For people who are not aware of Taylor Stanley who was praised earlier in this thread ... here he is rehearsing the opening of the PDD from Symphony in 3 Movements with the ever ravishing Tiler Peck.  

[DrewCo]

Statement given by Teresa Reichlen at this year's Fall Gala--just click on "see more" to read it:

 

 

[Ian Macmillan]

The first half of Alastair Macaulay's review of the Gala - see today's Links - is taken up with the significance of that statement.

[Bruce Wall]

UPDATE - 

 

An article in Dance Magazine released as of today's date publishes a statement from AGMA (the separate union covering dancers in the United States) noting that both Ramasar and Catazaro were offered NYCB reinstatement as instructed by the Union.  While Catazaro declined, Ramasar will be re-joining NYCB and undergoing counselling on the required standards for his future conduct.  

 

The article is here: https://www.dancemagazine.com/zachary-catazaro-amar-ramasar-firing-determined-wrongful-2635059461.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 and the tweet with Ramasar's decision, from Michael Cooper of the New York Times, is as referenced below. 
 

https://twitter.com/coopnytimes/status/1119257641593769985

 

The New York Times article on the same is here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/arts/dance/city-ballet-amar-ramasar-sexually-explicit-texts.html

 

On another note ... Regardless of what AGMA may have decided ... 

 

The newly cemented NYCB management seems to have got off on a very positive footing.  I applaud the fact that many noted NYCB artists from the past are now being brought in to coach works that they originated or were closed associated with - either through Balanchine or Robbins - and, too, that the upcoming 2019/20 season - announced in good order - shows a substantive return to the repertory of several works that have been left unseen for decades. 

 

On behalf of us all:  Thank Heavens.  

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2019 by Bruce Wall

[Sim]

I am not at all happy about this.   The disgraceful and disrespectful way they treated some of their female colleagues seems to be acceptable because it wasn't in direct relation to their work. At least Catazaro did the decent thing and declined the offer. I will be interested to see how Ramasar reintegrates.  If I were a ballerina in that company I would refuse to dance with him and could never trust him, counselling or not.    But as Bruce says, let's hope the company can now move forward in a positive way.  

[BeaverElliot]

2 hours ago, Sim said:

I am not at all happy about this.   The disgraceful and disrespectful way they treated some of their female colleagues seems to be acceptable because it wasn't in direct relation to their work. At least Catazaro did the decent thing and declined the offer. I will be interested to see how Ramasar reintegrates.  If I were a ballerina in that company I would refuse to dance with him and could never trust him, counselling or not.    But as Bruce says, let's hope the company can now move forward in a positive way.  

 

Reading the article, it seems that the judgement handed down was less about whether actions were ‘acceptable’ or otherwise; and more about whether suspension rather than termination was the more appropriate remedy for non acceptable texting.