According to Johann Jacobs, Ballet West fired Annie Van Alstyne on Tuesday because she violated company policy by releasing false statements to the press.
"We have a policy in our guidelines manual that says we need to make certain what we say to the media is accurate," said Jacobs, Ballet West's executive director. "We let Annie go because she violated that policy and procedure, and relayed information that wasn't true."
The firing of the company's administrative manager came in the wake of the controversy surrounding last month's termination of artistic director Jonas Kage. Ballet West claimed his leaving was mutually agreed upon, but Kage later came forward to say that he had been forced out.
Van Alstyne, who had worked for Ballet West for 18 years, told the Deseret Morning News last week that the company was trying to find ways to keep from paying Kage for two of his works that were scheduled for next season. "They were originally going to perform Jonas' 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Giselle,' " Van Alstyne said a week ago. "But they changed the program and are bringing back the older versions of the ballets so they won't have to pay Jonas."
Van Alstyne also said at that time that two choreographers — Hans van Manen and Richard Tanner — whose works were scheduled to be performed next season, have withdrawn permission for Ballet West to do those selections.
Actually, it was only Tanner who requested that his work, "Ancient Airs and Dances," be dropped from the schedule, according to Jacobs.
On Wednesday, Jacobs told the Deseret Morning News that Van Alstyne did not have the authority to speak to the press about matters concerning payment settlements with Kage or whether next season's scheduled line-up was in jeopardy because of the dispute.
"The issue is not the fact that Annie spoke to you," said Jacobs, "but because the statements were damaging to the company. The fact remains that Annie did not sit in meetings where the subjects of settlement terms were discussed."
In response, Van Alstyne said Wednesday, "The staff was called into Johann's office and were told by him that he expected 100 percent loyalty from the staff, and I couldn't do that if the company was going to lie to the public about Jonas' contract being terminated."
She knew that her loyalty to Kage would result in losing her job, Van Alstyne said. "I saw it coming. And now since it's happened, I feel relieved and exhausted. And I'm going through a detox period, because the office had become a poisonous place to work at. And I finally said to myself, 'No paycheck is worth my health.' "
Kage said Wednesday that Van Alstyne is loved in the dance community. "Choreographers nationally and internationally love her work and love working with her," he said. "She will have no problem finding a job. She's a great lady."
E-mail: scott@desnews.com