So who needs a bottom of the top-tier or top of the middle-tier male ballet dancer who disrespects the company that gave him his profession and his colleagues to the point of walking out on them without giving professional notice, who publicly suggests that he's a heroin user, who publicly muses about just not showing up for a big performance, whose public behavior suggests that while he may have artistic talent, he does not possess the maturity and professional ethics expected at the world's top ballet companies? Who needs someone like that? No doubt, Kevin McKenzie thinks he does. And he'll probably even use ABT donors' money to sponsor a stint at Hazelden for the kid. Think of the media coverage it would bring. Maybe ABT could even spin it into another "defection" story - the artist defected from his contract for monetary freedom.
You know it's coming, People, you just know it.
Yes, this whole thing seems very immature to me too. He's talented, but he appears to underestimate the amount of structure he needs to hone his physical gifts. He's not all the way there yet and will need strong coaching. The Royal is being VERY generous when they say they would welcome him back. Even though they may need him more than he needs them, there is nothing good about an unreliable or hot headed employee who will suddenly bail without notice. Especially since his Twitter implies he has been planning this.
Posted by: K | January 25, 2012 at 10:27 PM
True, K.
Glad to see the "Clean-up in aisle 1" response from the Royal Ballet. Each of us is expendable.
Posted by: Haglund | January 26, 2012 at 10:08 AM