Austin Smith 
Member since Jan 22, 2013

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Recent Comments

Re: “Charleston Ballet Theatre board resigns, dancers' pay suspended”

Couldn't agree more buffalo008!

2 of 3 people like this.
Posted by Austin Smith on January 29, 2013 at 8:18 PM

Re: “Charleston Ballet Theatre board resigns, dancers' pay suspended”

@dangyankee yes, don is the hands behind almost everything worn by dancers (but unfortunately not the creativity and brains behind it anymore). It is also true that he doesn't speak, and I have seen him railroaded by Jill and Patty on many occasions. On the only occasions when I heard him speak more than a couple of words, and only when drinking, he had only a few sharp critiscisms of Jill and Patty. I believe that he could be a great asset to the ballet with his experience and creativity, but that he was stifled early on and has given up trying to assert himself against tyrannical personalities.

11 of 12 people like this.
Posted by Austin Smith on January 25, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Re: “Charleston Ballet Theatre board resigns, dancers' pay suspended”

Thank you David for having the courage to say what we have all known. If history serves as an example Jill will probably try to sue us all for slander in some sad attempt to blame someone else.

Just like she told me that it was the fault of the board and " coward's," as she put it, when we were told in 2012 that we wouldn't be payed for our full contract.

It's never her fault

10 of 10 people like this.
Posted by Austin Smith on January 24, 2013 at 11:10 PM

Re: “Charleston Ballet Theatre board resigns, dancers' pay suspended”

You are right. The debt, however, was not made clear (at least not in its entirety) to the previous board. As a former employee I have direct experience with the way the artistic staff lied, manipulated, and hid the truth of what was happening until they were forced to come forward.
It saddens me that the dancers, many my friends, are being asked to perform for free, and many of them will. Not because they want to, but because if they do not they will loose their positions and become another dancer that Jill Eathorne Bahr openly bad mouths in front of everyone. Many do not have any other choice but to suffer this abuse or fear loosing out on an investment many have made for 5 + years.
The dancers need to be interviewed. The stories I have heard about the monetary, physical, and emotional abuse perpetrated by the "Artistic Staff" from some of the most senior dancers (past and present) is enough to turn stomachs. There is a much larger story to be told here.

13 of 14 people like this.
Posted by Austin Smith on January 24, 2013 at 8:03 PM

Re: “Charleston Ballet Theatre board resigns, dancers' pay suspended”

I agree, support other companies and artists doing inovative works and actual classics. Not contrite step-ball-Change choreography. If CBT had artistic integrity it might have succeeded, but that seems to have dried up a long time ago!

16 of 19 people like this.
Posted by Austin Smith on January 23, 2013 at 5:00 PM

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