An Oxymoron

I'm looking at a flier from the Columbus Ballet called Tea With Clara. It describes this tea as a "New Christmas Tradition". I wonder what the NEW tradition will be next year. This is from the same people that Fired Mr. Herriott and changed the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker that had been the same excellent show for five years running.

Most of the choreography for the Nutcracker had been written by Mr. Herriott. In order to use the same choreography the Board would have needed the approval of him. THEY NEVER OFFICIALLY ASKED HIM! Mr. Herriott would have allowed them to continue with his Nutcracker IF they left it unchanged.

Mrs. Hirsch planned from the beginning to change the choreography so that her daughter could have two solo's. She gave no thought to the tradition that had been established over the last five years. She gave no thought to the children that had already worked so hard learning their parts. Her only desire was for her child to be the star of the show.

A Christmas tradition is something that has become part of our holiday culture. Last night I heard a teenager at Calloway Gardens complain that the lights were always the same. Her mother said "hush, its a Christmas tradition". In 1954 the New York City Ballet began performing George Balanchine's Nutcracker and it has been unchanged ever since. A Christmas Story the movie has been with us since 1983, unchanged I might ad.

Thank you The Board of the Columbus Ballet for the new Christmas tradition. I can't wait to see what new tradition you will have for us next year.