Spokane Has New Ballet Company

There's a new professional ballet company in Washington, one that carries a contract for live music by the local symphony, and Spokane has it.

The Ballet Company of Spokane - not to be confused with the ill-fated Spokane Ballet of three years ago - makes its debut, with guest artists Susan Jaffe and Jeremy Collins of American Ballet Theatre and Robert LaFosse of New York City Ballet, at 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Spokane Opera House ($16-$50; 509-327-4049).

Directing the new company is former ABT and New York City Ballet soloist David Moore, with former colleague Ellen Kent as principal ballerina.

Lending considerable clout and connections to the fledgling troupe, now at seven dancers but expected to grow to 16 by next summer, is redoubtable Charles France, former artistic administrator of American Ballet Theatre under Mikhail Baryshnikov, before the ABT board fired France in a squabble that led to Baryshnikov's resignation as ABT director.

Moore fell in love with the Northwest plateau while teaching in Montana little more than a year ago. Wishing a change from the Alabama Ballet, where he'd been working since leaving the East Coast (he's a Georgia native son), Moore heard about and visited Spokane, noting its need for a ballet company.

"I just thought people could dance beautifully in a beautiful place," he said. "And I knew Spokane people would love to come see beautiful dancers."

He taught at Spokane's Ballet Arts Academy downtown, where there are three studios, and helped them stage a program, last holiday season.

"I came out last Christmas to see it," said New Yorker Charles France. "Davis really wanted to start a company. So I said, `Let's do it!' "

Moore brought in dancers such as Isabella Adams from Saratoga, Leanne Jarrett from Calgary, and others.

Spokane arts patron Grace Dunkley helped form a board of directors. They incorporated, wrote an agreement with Spokane Symphony for several shows through 1993 (there's the possibility of a "Nutcracker"), and were in business. The budget is expected to be about $500,000 the first year.

"This Nov. 7 date is the cornerstone of their fund-raising campaign for the year," France said. "It takes a lot of aggressiveness. I think the audience and the money is there for it. If the ballet can be made to be attractive, it will attract the people."

A mixed bill with music played by Spokane Symphony under Vakhtang Jordania features a "greatest hits" evening. It includes George Balanchine's "Valse Fantaisie," Mikhail Fokine's "Dying Swan," Auguste Bournonville's "Flower Festival at Genzano," Marius Petipa's "Raymonda" grand adagio and variations, plus LaFosse's "Fred and Ginger."

France stressed live music was wanted from the start. He also said he was surprised and pleased when the guest artists offered to perform free, and that their parent companies are providing costumes and music parts, also free.

"People are supporting this effort," he said. "The facts surrounding the performance and the connection with the symphony is good news for Washington State."