The True Director of the Columbus Ballet

ladies and Gentlemen, Let me direct your attention to the New Director of the Columbus Ballet. That would be Ms. Susan Wirt the Director of CSU Continuing Education.

It seems that a Memorandum of Understand was signed by Ms. Daphne Dove-Pearce which places all power in the hands of Mrs. Wirt. No wonder Mrs. Wirt wanted to get rid of Mr. Herriott. So, here is a list of The Columbus Ballet Responsibilities:


Collaborate with CSU CE to recruit a mutually-acceptable candidate who will serve as both TCB Artistic Director and CE Program Coordinator.

FUND and supervise the Artistic/Executive Director and TCB administrative support staff.

Collaborate with Continuing Education to recruit and retain students

Collaorate with Continuing Education to advertise classes.

OBTAIN and maintain liability insurance for the Columbus Ballet to cover classes rehearsals and any other activities overseen by TCB and provide a copy of this document to the Director of CSU Continuing Education

Support the policies and procedures estabished by the USG Board of Regents and CSU Continuing Education.

Of course the Ballet much also Fund any performances including costumes, sets, paid principle dancers, etc.


So, it appears that CSU is taking all of the tuition money in exchange for the space? Wow, the Ballet out of whatever money it makes on the Nutcracker, selling trinkets and t-shirts and of course whatever donations the community can come up with pays for everything else.

Mr. Herriott was obviously against many of these policies. Policies designed to make the Ballet another exercise class under the thumb of Continuing Education. Policies that have been put into place since his resignation from CSU and subsequent firing from the Ballet.

There was much talk of the ballet leaving CSU and proposals had been drafted to that effect. CSU, however, had no intention of a big revenue generator walking out the door and they refused to any of the demands made by the Board of The Columbus Ballet. Pressuring the weak members of the board, who were there only to further their good name in the community, CSU was able to convince them that the Ballet could not stand on its on.

Mr. Herriott was the glue that made it possible for The Columbus Ballet to make it on its on. With him out of the picture the rest of the controllable board would fall into line. The president Mrs. Daphne Dove-Pearce has made it clear that this has all been inconvenient....why she thought the job would be just getting the name out into the community. I am sure she is very happy that CSU will be taking over so she can go back to her fund-raisers.

So there you have it people. Give your donations to the Columbus Ballet so that Columbus State University Continuing Education Department can make money off the tuition from the students. Don't think that isn't a substantial amount of money either. Mr. Herriott had increased the rolls to around 250 students. With one upper level ballet student paying $1200/year for classes and even students taking one class will pay hundreds of dollars/year you can see the earning potential.

Mrs. Wirt, my compliments on a job well done. With the removal of Mr. Herriott and the new MOU with the board you truly are the Ballet Mistress. Your expert manipulating of Mrs. Pippas, Mrs. Dove-Pearce and of course Mrs. Hirsch has moved The Columbus Ballet from an Artist in Residence at the Rankin Center to just another program offered by CSU's Continuing Education.

I anxiously await to see CSU's plans for the future. Once CSU starts its own Dance Program what will happen to The Columbus Ballet? Was getting rid of Mr. Herriott simply the first step in taking over the Rankin and phasing out The Columbus Ballet?
I bet these questions are not asked by the Ledger-Enquirer.