Other cuts include a reduction from 40 to 35 dancers, and a trim to artists' contracts from 38 weeks to 35. Though Ballet West's reputation gained luster last year through critically acclaimed appearances at Scotland's Edinburgh International Festival, prestige doesn't pay the bills. The deficit for the recent fiscal year stood at $320,000.
Ballet West executive director J hann Jacobs cited rising costs for health insurance, workers' compensation, and the expense of providing a live orchestra among factors contributing to the deficit. Repertory programs, which include several short ballets, can be especially costly because the expense for lighting design, acquisition costs, orchestra music and bringing in choreographers is tripled or quadrupled.
" 'Sleeping Beauty' costs us less to produce because we can do out of stock in the warehouse," Jacobs said.
Ballet West board chairwoman Carol Carter said next season's cuts are "business decisions" made to keep the company strong despite an uncertain economy and difficult times for arts groups around the nation. Ballet West's current season will not be affected, nor will the company's successful capital campaign for a new building, which Carter calls "an important part of the ballet's strategic plan."
"It's like any business. Success in one department does not relieve the need to balance the budget in another area," Carter said. "The building is needed for the future of the company, but we have to operate in the black."
"Revenue is not keeping pace with expenses, and we have to address that," said Jacobs. "I don't want to get to the point where we need a 'Save the Ballet' campaign. By doing some restructuring now, we can prevent that."
The new season is designed to build on audience preferences and maximize marketing potential, Jacobs said. The best ticket-sellers for Ballet West are full-length story ballets, such as "Cinderella," which the company will produce later this month. The 2005-06 season will include Ballet West artistic director Jonas Kåge's new setting of "Romeo and Juliet" to music of Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and one triple-bill repertory program in the spring. Season subscribers can buy packages for those three ballets, or a four-ballet package that includes "The Nutcracker."
John Roake, director of marketing, said companies such as San Francisco Ballet and New York City Ballet now start their seasons with "The Nutcracker." Ballet West plans to move some of its fund-raising events to November to take advantage of the momentum generated by its popular "Nutcracker" production.
Kåge said the cuts at Ballet West are "the sensible thing to do at this moment," but he regrets the loss of the fall repertory program because of the artistic growth it gives his dancers, and the deeper understanding of ballet it provides for the community.
"When things happen in the world, art suffers," Kåge said. "We just have to be patient and stick it out. When you look at the tapestry of this community's efforts in the past to realize what we have now, we have a great responsibility to make sure we don't jeopardize anything."
Steven Davis, president of the Ballet West Dancer's Association, said dancers were "brought in early" to discussions with Ballet West's board and administrators. He said dancers recognize the need for changes, and are "dealing with it as best as we can. We are losing over 10 percent of our annual salaries. For people with houses and financial responsibilities, it is very difficult." Having fewer dancers in the company also means that the remaining dancers will carry a bigger burden, and, perhaps, a higher risk of injuries, Davis said.
"I don't think the level of the dancing will diminish at all, but I hope we get back to where we were, numbers-wise," he added.
Ballet West principal ballerina Maggie Wright, a 17-year veteran with the company, said, "Ballet West has learned a lot about itself through this. Maybe ballet companies need to be run differently. We have to figure out a way to show that this is vital to the community, and good for business."
Carter said the new cuts need to be in place for at least 24 months to stabilize Ballet West's budget. Other programming options are being explored in the meantime, she said, and the company hopes to resume its full schedule as soon as possible.
