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Maurice Béjart: A Small Swiss City Gets a Big Ballet Company
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13624 |
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THE ARTS
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8 / 1988 |
2,401 Words |
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Mavis Guinard
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In June 1987, celebrated French choreographer Maurice Béjart's contract with Brussels' Theatre de la Monnaie was coming to an end. Learning that Béjart was not planning to renew it because of budget problems and a personality conflict with director Gérard Mortier, the small Swiss city of Lausanne made a decisive bid to underwrite the running costs of the Béjart company.
The Belgian capital had hosted Béjart and his company for twenty seven years, ever since Béjart's successful production of Stravinsky's Rites of Spring launched him into international fame. If the Belgians were upset, so too were the French cultural officials who had hoped to lure perhaps the world's most popular modern ballet company to Paris. But despite matching offers, Béjart stood by a decision taken while on tour in Leningrad. "I am not a football star trying to push up bids between rival countries; I'm a lover and a servant of dance." He added, "I like Lausanne. I am not a big-city person. I have friends here; I like being close to the lake and the Alps. Lausanne is cosmopolitan without all the distractions of a large capital. It's a fine place to create."
Other considerations may have been involved. Lausanne's exceptional road and rail connections certainly simplify the logistics of moving seventy people, trunks of costumes, and stage properties when the company goes out on its frequent tours. Lausanne's new and strong interest in dance is evidenced by the Prix de Lausanne for junior dancers, a new competition for young choreographers, and a project to create a dance museum.
Two Million Swiss Francs
Under the overall contract guaranteeing Béjart's company an annual subsidy of two million Swiss francs for the next five years, covering the contracts of Béjart, sixty dances, and technical and administrative personnel, the former XXth Century Ballet officially became Béjart Ballet Lausanne last September. An additional $3.2 million yearly budget will be covered by ticket sales, sponsors, and cantonal aid. Securely linked to the city where the company will perform when in Switzerland, Béjart's Ballet Lausanne will continue to tour the world. "And will probably pay their way," added the canny city authorities to reassure their citizens about the sudden deal.
There was some criticism locally. Lausanne theaters, dance groups, and museums, which had not found the city particularly supportive of culture in recent years, resented the ease with which 10 percent of all municipal subsidies were allocated for Béjart.
The actual transition went smoothly. Though the low-paid dancers found themselves moving to a town with more costly housing, most of the company gladly followed Béjart, tossing their jeans and unitards into duffel bags and bringing their pets. Seasonal work permits were obtained for the foreign artists, who come from fourteen different countries. Secretaries and municipal employees hustled out to interview concierges to locate apartments for the incoming dancers. Campus gyms were requisitioned during the summer for rehearsal space. Rehearsals were never interrupted during the move.
Exacting Taskmaster
Béjart is an exacting taskmaster.
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