Ballet BC cancels spring tour
Vancouver dance troupe has successful Nutcracker, but still needs cash
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 | 2:45 PM ET
CBC News
Ballet BC is hoping to raise enough cash to resume its season. (CBC)There's more bad news from troubled Ballet BC.
The Vancouver dance company that laid off its staff and dancers in November, now has cancelled a five-city spring tour.
The troupe was to dance A Streetcar Named Desire, a contemporary ballet by its artistic director John Alleyne, in a three-week national tour next April.
The tour would have taken the ballet company to Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Thunder Bay, but it was too costly to contemplate for a company in financial difficulty.
"We just can't afford it," said Ballet BC president Graeme Barrit.
The ballet is fighting for its life after a season of slow subscription and ticket sales. Its survival depends on its creditors accepting a restructuring proposal and on raising about $200,000 so its dancers can come back to work in January.
"We have some money to make a proposal to our creditors," Barrit said. "What we're endeavouring to do is to make a reasonable proposal to our creditors."
Ballet BC laid off its 38 staff and dancers in November, saying the survival of the company depended on its run of The Nutcracker, to be performed by Moscow Classical Ballet.
On Monday, the company said it has avoided bankruptcy because of strong ticket sales for The Nutcracker.
Vancouver residents rallied to see the Christmas classic and an anonymous benefactor bought a block of tickets for disadvantaged children, resulting in 12,000 tickets being sold.
That has provided Ballet BC with some operating cash, but the 22-year-old company has debt of $450,000.
If the board can raise another $200,000, Ballet BC plans to bring back its dancers and resume its season in February with Carmen.
The board says it has raised $25,000 toward its goal and is making a plea to Nutcracker ticket-holders to make a donation.
It will hear Jan. 9 whether creditors have accepted its proposal to get the company operating again.
