Dance is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire.
–George Bernard Shaw
The fall-out from sexual harassment allegations against New York City Ballet director Peter Martins has finally reached north of the border.
In the grand tradition of ballet supremos to get a leg over with their dancers, Martins–age 71–allegedly used his position to obtain sex in exchange for better roles.
The revelations bring to mind the quote by Wilhelmina Frankfurt, former City Ballet dancer: “The only way that Peter rivaled [his predecessor, George Balanchine] was as a Casanova. However, where Mr. B. was charm incarnate, Peter was a basher.”
Frankfurt’s disclosure came several years before the #MeToo campaign, which apparently inspired former City Ballet dancers and students to break their silence and accuse Martins of Weinsteining.
Not to be outdone, Toronto is trying to get a leg up on New York with its very own scandal of sex, intimidation, extortion and favouritism at the National Ballet of Canada.
In a series of emails sent to Toronto media last week, anonymous National Ballet insiders claim the NBofC and its board of directors are awash in nepotism and sexual blackmail.
Take, for instance, the case of Mr. X, a wealthy patron and member of the board of directors, who allegedly pressured and sexually harassed a principal dancer with the NBofC. The dancer has remained silent, out of fear of reprisals–given Mr. X’s powerful position with the company.
Then there’s the matter of Robert Binet, whose mere presence at the NBofC has his detractors in a tizzy.
Binet’s appointment as Choreographic Associate with the company and his connection to various arts councils is evidence of blatant nepotism, quoth his critics.
They claim Binet has been afforded the kind of opportunities other artists only dream of because his father is grillionaire David Binet, deputy chair of Thomson Reuters and CEO of Woodbridge, which owns the Globe and Mail. (Spoiler alert. You won’t be reading this story in the Globe anytime soon.)
Critics claim that the appointment of Binet Sr., one of the NBofC’s most generous donors, as chairman of the board, presents the possibility of conflict of interest. The chair, after all, might make official decisions in an unofficial capacity, that could lead to a conversation along the lines of: If you disagree with me, I will personally stop funding you, and that goes double for my various companies and their subsidiaries.
No one is suggesting that anything of the sort occurred, but the situation has raised concerns, as does the flourishing career of his son, Robert.
Binet the Elder previously served as chair of the board of directors at the National Ballet School – while Robert attended. Sadly, when he graduated, Binet the Younger was unsuccessful at securing a position in any ballet company.
Problem solved, since by now, his father had moved to the board of the NBofC. In short order, Robert was hired as Choreographic Associate, a position created for him, at age 21.
When David moved to the Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Ontario, it was soon announced that the AGO would hire a choreographer, to create a dance work to coincide with one of their exhibitions of Canadian paintings.
En avant, Robert Binet.
Meanwhile, the gutter press has finally glommed onto the story; representatives of the NBofC’s board of directors will meet this week with hacks at the Toronto Star.
Doubtless, a full and frank explanation for all this messy ballet business will be forthcoming.
Stay tuned.
Tutu much pointe-edly nepotistic nonsense, Bate! See you at the barre!
Karen Kain is 5, 6, 7, 8.
“It’s run by filthy rich nepotists and inveterate horndogs, you know.” Thank you, Franksters…when my wife next proposes we go to the ballet I’ll know exactly how to respond.
Yup. These are ***exactly*** the kind of people who give arts organizations bad names.
But when you have more money than sense you think you can behave so appallingly and get away with it.
Plus these places clearly don’t have any policies to prevent it because this duo did this at the ballet school, the ballet company and the art gallery – without anyone doing something.
This is the kind of thing that makes a true ballet lover sick at heart. If Binet the Elder is so damn rich, he could hire his kid for a 100K a year and donate his talents, such as they may be, gratis instead of expecting organizations that he has influence over to pay his offspring out of their own pocket. If you only knew what corps de ballet dancers are paid, and for how many weeks a year, you’d cry and cry.
Disgusting and yet unsurprising to those in the know. Those in the field have long known about this family and their abuse of power to further their sons career.
Prepare for adamant denials and cries of “this is all only a coincidence – there is nothing to see here” shortly. They have now opened Pandora’s Box and all the people who were complicit in accepting money or turning a blind eye will be outed. #metoo
I don’t get it… stay tuned for what? NBOCs complete statement of denial?
Are they investigating the sexual harassment claims or are they focusing on the nepotism? I cannot be the only person to have zero faith in the NBOC board of directors being truthful about ANY of the goings on at the company after what is described above.
TBH I think that what’s most likely to happen is the board says nope, this is all by chance, just because he’s Binet the elder’s son doesn’t mean he’s not talented, everything is fine. The Star or whoever jumps on this will then publish an article about how there were accusations made against the Binet’s but they were proven to be unfounded, but wasn’t it great that the company was so responsive and took initiative, etc etc etc.
I’d put money on it.
Your tax dollars at work, folks.
Junior’s production was presented last month in an ensemble peformance, but why all the sudden interest now?
The Ensemble pieces were under the “Made in Canada” banner, and unior Robert Binet’s piece “The Dreamers Ever Leave You” (2016)