Dear Readers, I have heard back from several parents saying that the members of the board of the Columbus Ballet are not responding to calls or e-mails. The pleas are going unanswered.
I say lets help them out and demand a curtain call at the performance. At the end of Act I lets bring the house down. Let them know that you want a chance to show your appreciation. Claps, cat-calls, whistles, air-horns, whatever it takes to bring the Act I dancers back out for a bow.
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Of course they are not returning e-mails or phone calls. The Executive Director doesn't so why should they? Besides, Maria and Jessica assured them that they could handle everything. Why didn't y'all just catch Marjorie Newman yesterday? You didn't know she came to watch rehearsals? She didn't speak to any of you as she hurried up the hallway and was wisked off to her seat in the audience? Or why don't y'all talk to Drew Beach while he's there for rehearsals? He is, after all, the parent representative. Oh, but wait, he doesn't make any effort to meet the parents if they are not in the "inner circle".
ReplyDeleteI like Ward’s idea. I say let’s do it.
An interesting conversation took place at my house on Thanksgiving Day between myself and my daughter who is in Act I.
ReplyDeleteThis is our 3rd Nutcracker. The child I had this conversation with is very intelligent and an excellent student at school; she keeps track of details better than I do. I will be referring to her as Clara, because my spouse is concerned that if the current regime reads this blog and identifies us, our child may be treated differently if she is perceived as the child of anyone who supports David and dares to breathe any criticism of the current program. The fact that a sentiment like this could come from a usually optimistic guy who likes to give all the benefit of the doubt and to think well of those he meets till proven otherwise, shows the extent to which the element of trust has broken down in this situation.
"Clara Dear, do you know why the curtain call for Act I was eliminated?"
Clara (a child who normally never stops talking) stared blankly into the distance. After a moment, her deer-in-the-headlights look became a quizzical one.
"I didn't know the curtain call had been eliminated. I knew we hadn't been practicing it, but I didn't know why."
After a minute, her eyes clouded over, and she said, "I don't like that."
So much for the joy and happiness of our wonderful, magical production.
I find it appaling that one person can hold over 100 people hostage. I understand that the parents cannot, at this point, say anything to the Artistic Director. She has taken a program that the children were enjoying and learning the art of dance, and turned it into an example of brow beating and threats to do good. Yes, I am sure those smiles on those faces tomorrow will be of joy or will it be because they are being threatened STILL that they are replacable and they are, by golly, going to look like they are enjoying it? What is sad is that Mrs. Hirsch is a good teacher. But she has no idea what it takes to pull a company together - she really does not know if she wants a community ballet or a semi-professional one. She is talking out of both sides of her mouth. Is this someone that is going to instill the love of the art into the soul of a child or just scare them into dancing instead of pulling it up from inside themselves?
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