#urin

Yes, welcome to the flaming hot trash can that is BT. Apparently there's been mass casting changes after the Gala in Tashkent, UZB. Numerous artists have had their performances removed for at least the next month or so. However, I'm not sure if they are threatened to be removed, most soources I'm reading now frame this as a suspension for 'bad behavoir." Since everyone will ask, names of the dancers who took part in the gala are Vladislav Lantratov, Vyacheslav Lopatin, Anastasia Stashkevich, Ekaterina Krysanova, Mikhail Lobukhin, Evgenia Obraztsova, Maria Alexandrova, Ekaterina Shipulina, Ruslan Skvortsov, and Alexander Volchkov.

There's speculation about whether this was an 'unapproved' individual tour, eg done without the permission or awareness of the notiorious M. Vaziev. But since SO many BT artists took part, that seems quite unlikely and I tend to think that they were (at one point) given permission to go. How do you not know if 10 of your principals are taking off? It makes no sense??

Several reputable posters on forms have said that BT dancers were given permission to dance over the weekend, did not come to the theatre Monday (this is a standard 'day off' for ballet dancers because we nearly always work Sat+Sun), and arrived Tuesday for morning ballet class. Speculations about Covid/quarantine have also been rejected.

Additional speculations include issues the Gala in Taskhent's posters and marketing. Some suggest that the name/logo of the Bolshoi was used without proper permission. What do the dancers have to do with the marketing and graphic design?? Your guess is is as good as mine.

This is a kindergarten-esque punishment, I think its so terrible because it affects not only the suspended dancers, but the audience members who specially bought tickets to see certain dancers, and also all the other dancers who are now getting a bunch of worked dumped on them.

Vaziev has refused to comment and General Director of BT, V. Urin says he doesn't comment on internal issues. How ironic. I personally wonder how much of this is political as strife seems to be brewing between the two countries. Uzbekistan officials have said publicly that they will not deport fleeing Russians and the government is suspending certain Russian Bank payment methods and seems to be subtly supporting US Sanctions.

Urin The Nightlight, Chapel Hill NC 1/20/2020