SAN ANGELO, TX — Wednesday, a dozen parents arrived at the monthly board meeting for Ballet San Angelo to voice their concerns about the board’s firing of the company’s Artistic Director Sandra Miller. Two others on the Ballet San Angelo staff quit as a result.
Sara Beth Terral, a six-year veteran of the ballet, and its marketing director, walked out Wednesday. Terral was instrumental in the ballet’s very successful rebranding from San Angelo Civic Ballet to Ballet San Angelo.
Several weeks prior, on the heels of the sacking of artistic director Miller, Mo Soupiset walked out. Mo headed the programs for the youngest kids.
“We finally had momentum. Donations were up. Enrollment was up. We were finally getting somewhere and this happens,” explained Soupiset.
Miller was sacked unceremoniously on a Tuesday afternoon in late June. According to the parents, she was told to pack her stuff and get out.
The official reason for firing her is unknown, hidden behind typical human resources secrecy. That lends to rampant speculation. The loudest explanation we heard was she was not a “yes man” and spoke her mind.
Mike Burnett, Associate Professor and Assistant Director of the University Theatre at Angelo State University, has a child in Ballet San Angelo, and has become the informal leader of the group of concerned parents. Burnett is also a longtime volunteer who maintains the Ballet’s sets and props.
He addressed the board meeting held upstairs at the San Angelo Performing Arts Center yesterday evening. Burnett is friends with some of the board members, and is attempting a mediate the parents’ concerns with the board. “We requested that by the end of this meeting, the board gives us a timeline for talking to all of us, and a timeline and method how they are going to fix all of the staffing issues,” Burnett told the small group gathered near the foot of the stairs to the conference room where the board meeting was taking place.
In the meantime, Interim Director Erin Lane runs the ballet. Lane earned her BFA at the University of Texas in dance. She also serves as the head of the yoga program at Ballet San Angelo. Her resume indicates experience in modern dance, such as her time spent with the Sharir + Bustamante Danceworks in Austin. Modern dance and classical ballet are two different animals.
Burnett acknowledged the ballet has trouble retaining directors steeped in experience in classical ballet. For example, the ousted Sandra Miller held a BFA from Texas Christian University and served part of her 25-year teaching career as the principal dancer with the Fort Worth Ballet (now Texas Ballet Theatre).
The Nutcracker, the signature performance of Ballet San Angelo, is presented as a classical ballet experience.
The parents hold out hope that the board will reverse course and bring Miller back. But for now, they are asking questions of the board and want answers.
Artistic directors don’t last long at Ballet San Angelo during its recent history. After longtime Artistic Director Meghann Bridgeman’s 10-year stint here ended in 2015, the position has become a revolving door. Gina Patterson, Bridgeman’s successor, lasted a little over a year. By the 2016 Nutcracker season, the ballet had hired an interim director, Catherine Batcheller. Miller was hired in March 2017.
“If we keep running off our artistic directors, who will want to come work here?” one parent asked.
We would have asked the board what they thought, but our reporter was kicked out of the room.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Comments
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkWhat Paul Alexander fails to mention in his rant is that his brother-in-law is the president of the board of directors at Ballet San Angelo. Also, according to rumors, his niece (who dances with the ballet) was not happy under Sandra Miller's direction and was thinking about leaving the ballet if Ms. Miller stayed. Again, that's just speculation, but who knows for sure. Either way, I'd take Paul Alexander's bias into account when reading through his attempt to discredit the accountability of this story. Smells like a cover up!
- Log in or register to post comments
Permalink- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkIt’s probably good that you edited your original post. I luckily managed to take a screenshot of it before you changed it. I think I’ll print it out and hang it on my wall to remind me of how unethical and corrupt people in power can be. It’s sad that some people feel need to use censorship and deceit to serve their own interests.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkOver tutus and tippytoe shoes. but those poor autistic kids losing their director.....shame.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkFYI...its artistic, not autistic
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkNuff said....
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkSounds like they need Markus from the Profit to come fix this mess!
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkThe story states two people quit because Miller was fired. Is that speculation or is there confirmation from each of the indivuals as to their reasons for quitting?
Unless the board provides an official reason for the termination (no requirement to do so and really wrong to do so unless criminal acts involved) or Miller wants to give statement on the record then it really is nobody’s business.
The board of any business or organization is responsible for the efficient operation of it.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkBallet San Angelo is a civic arts organization, that takes in charitable donations from the community. As community members who donate, we want and expect the board to be run well, efficiently, and ethically. It is our business
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkNormally, I would grant someone like Mr. Alexander the benefit of the doubt. But, if he is indeed as connected to BSA as Team Sandra claims, he should NOT comment in any way OR he should have clearly stated his connections. Now it just sounds like a serious conflict of interest and the accompanying bias. Shame on him for his nondisclosure.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkMy wife operated a dance studio for fifty-one years, and still teaches. She has taught ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and tap, and did it all damn well. I mention this because since we married I have observed the dance world and the egos/politics/bullying/foolishness that all too often can work to undermine a dance organization.
As a remote observer it appears to me that Ballet San Angelo once was a vibrant, contributing part of the local scene. Clearly something happened to drive it off the rails, and I hate that. Dance has a lot to give to a community. Unfortunately, sometimes the members of a community can undermine it.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkShame, shame, Paul Alexander! You claimed, "I am not associated with the ballet" when you clearly are. You are the brother in law of the board president and have worked together in the family business. You took down your rant and did not have the dignity to own up to your deception. It is disingenuous people like you that have lead to the ballet's current situation.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkMy two daughters are students at Ballet San Angelo. One of them is entering her 7th year. We have seen BSA through all of these changes. I sit on community boards and I own businesses, so I understand the confidentiality surrounding an employee’s termination. Regardless, of these changes the last three years Ballet San Angelo hasn’t missed a beat (pun intended) the organization has continued to produce great sold out shows for our community and to turn out great ballerinas. They have had numerous students the last 3 years apply and were accepted in summer ballet programs all over the nation. They have continued to grow both in students and financially. Thanks to their wonderful board, staff, parents, students and volunteers.
I hate that people are upset, I hate that we are faced with more change. However, I trust the board that is made up of dedicated volunteers who are backbone of our community made the best decision for the studio and its students. There are always two sides to every story, unfortunately due to confidentiality the board is unable to tell their side. I wish this group of only 12 parents would realize that Ms. Miller is not coming back and put their efforts into focusing on the future of Ballet San Angelo. I hate loosing great employees like Ms. Mo and Sarah Beth, but unfortunately every person in a position is replaceable. I wish them well and great success in there next positions. I believe the board is going to work very hard to fill these positions with other great dedicated people who will be proud to work at BSA because of its talented students and because of its reputation to rise above difficulties. I believe the board has already made a move in the right direction by appointing Ms. Lane as the interim. She loves BSA and it’s student and I believe the future of BSA is bright. As they say on the stage, no matter what, the show must go on. Ballet San Angelo will do just that so, go buy your season tickets and support these talented kids!
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkI would like to encourage all Ballet San Angelo parents, sponsors, donors, and concerned community members to share your feelings and concerns with the Ballet San Angelo board of directors. They should be listening to the voices of all parties, and not just those people who spend their weekends sipping mimosas with board members. If you’re not sure how to get in touch with the board, I’m sure the folks mentioned in this article (Mike Burnett and Sara Beth Terral) would be glad to help and would love your support.
- Log in or register to post comments
PermalinkPost a comment to this article here: