Does that “interim” make the artistic director position feel like an audition?
When the selection committee interviewed me, I told them I’m not interested in being “interim” artistic director. I’m looking at this long term. This is a timely moment, when the company has to change its face. And if they’re not careful they’ll miss it. Ballet BC was completely dismantled. So what we’re building is a new company. The ballet laid off 38 dancers and staff. It owed as much as $600,000. How are its finances now? It’s cleared its debt but has no credit either. It’s a clean but minimal slate. What will be the first work you write on that slate? Our first show, a collaboration between the National Ballet and Ballet BC, will be performed on September 30. I’m creating a new work for the Ballet BC dancers to perform that evening. As for the rest, all I can say right now is that the new company launches in April 2010. What’s your vision for the new company? I want a school for contemporary dance attached to us. A choreographic workshop. An apprentice company. And tours between s
