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Article: Leaps of faith; Turns of fortune After Mikhail Baryshnikov left, the American Ballet Theatre was dragging with big debts and demoralized dancers. Enter Mr. Practical, Kevin McKenzie, who made the troupe back into `one of the best in the world again.'.(VARIETY)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- October 8, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When American Ballet Theatre last visited Minneapolis, in 1989, the ground was already shaking. Artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov - the most charismatic dancer of our age - was only months away from resigning as its artistic director after nine controversial years of high glamour and heightening deficits. He was replaced by company manager Jane Hermann, his chief in-house adversary, whose job was to cut costs and raise money.
By 1992, when Hermann left, ABT had a deficit of $5.7 million, a company so large that tour presenters couldn't afford it and thoroughly demoralized dancers. Onlookers prepared obituaries for ABT as its funders retreated, reluctant to throw good ...