Serbian National Theater Ballet Ensemble published yesterday, on World Game Day (April 29), an open letter requesting the change of management and citing a number of reasons for such a request.
The day after that, the Administration of the Serbian National Theater (that is, not only the Ballet) sent the following statement to the media:
"On the occasion of the publicly expressed dissatisfaction of the ballet ensemble, the management of the Serbian National Theater points out that the expressed dissatisfaction of the ballet dancers cannot be considered the opinion of the majority, but that it is a question of demands expressed on forums and informal groups, despite established procedures and with formal deficiencies.
At the same time, the Serbian National Theater expresses its readiness for an open dialogue, with full understanding of the individual issues mentioned in the request, especially if one takes into account the fact that many of the challenges the ensemble faces have deep roots in decades of neglect of the ballet sector.
This administration intends to implement gradual and constructive reforms in the operation of the theater, which will ensure better conditions for work and artistic development. We are open to cooperation and we believe that only joint efforts can ensure the future of ballet in SNP."
Tonight's show canceled.
By the way, the Ballet Ensemble (SNP) did not have a dress rehearsal of the play "Swan Lake" yesterday, which is in the repertoire tonight. That's why tonight they will play only a dress rehearsal in front of the audience.
This is their protest due to yesterday's police violence against students, professors, journalists and citizens in Novi Sad.
"Yesterday, our colleagues, our friends and our children were beaten and thrown and sprayed with tear gas. We, the participants of the ballet performance 'Swan Lake', for these reasons and simple humanity and anxiety, were not able - neither psychologically nor emotionally - to perform a dress rehearsal for the performance," they said.
