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08/25/2004: "Cabert/Ballet"

Isaac Butler at Parabasis links to a story from yesterday’s New York Times. In brief, the article describes a new wrinkle in fundraising: auctioning off the artists themselves. And I mean literally.

Last February, at the Atlanta Ballet’s annual gala, Lynda Courts saw an item up for auction that she just could not refuse. The evening’s performance was “Romeo and Juliet,” and Romeo himself was on offer.

“Much to my husband’s consternation I kept bidding,” said Ms. Courts, who has been on the board of the Atlanta Ballet for 20 years.

Five minutes and $3,000 later, Ms. Courts held a photograph of her prize: John Welker, the evening’s star, whom she had purchased the right to “sponsor” for the next year. (She got a deal. At the Atlanta Ballet, dancers of Mr. Welker’s stature usually go for $10,000 a year.)

“I had so much fun running up to John saying: ‘Guess what? I own you!’ ” Ms. Courts recalled. “He said, ‘What are you talking about?’ I said: ‘I bought you at the auction. I’m your sponsor for the year.’ We had a great time laughing and talking about that.”

In an interview, Mr. Welker sounded genuinely enthusiastic about the affiliation. “To be associated with her is an honor,” he said. Still, he said: “It was weird at first. You use the word ‘auction off.’ I don’t know how to use that word appropriately. It sounds kind of bad.”


From prima ballerina to ecdysiast? Is that the plan? And why not? Degradation of fineness gives an added thrill for those who must resort to purchased pleasures.

In playwright Jean Genet’s (made famous by Bowie's "Jean Genie") world we’re all prostitutes of one sort or another, so this is just another form of recognizing that fact of life. In my world, this turn on fundraising tactics just oozes "ick".

Let's dance    For fear your grace should fall
Let's dance    For fear tonight is all