Bolshoi's NZ tour treads on toes

By PAULA OLIVER

The country's arts fraternity is baring its claws again - this time over next month's tour by dancers from the Russian Bolshoi ballet.

In an unexpected outburst, the Royal New Zealand Ballet's artistic director, Matz Skoog, called the Bolshoi tour B-grade.

Skoog, who has spent months working on a Royal New Zealand Ballet gala planned for similar dates, is disappointed his show is competing for ticket sales with the Bolshoi troupe.

He admitted he had seen only a television advertisement for the tour but said he knew immediately that it would be mediocre.

"I've been in the profession for over 30 years and I know what's good and bad ... You can smell it.

"I feel it is important that the public knows what is good and what is bad - and that they don't go under the illusion that they are seeing an A1 presentation of the top echelon of Russian dancers. I think that is unlikely."

He said Bolshoi tour groups were "a dime a dozen".

Skoog's blast comes four months after a similar spat in which the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra spoke of its fears of being upstaged by an "overhyped" Vienna orchestra.

That was settled when the Austrian group's visit was cancelled - but a similar resolution in the world of ballet looks unlikely.

Bolshoi promoter Dennis Brown said Skoog's comments insulted the integrity of the 225-year-old Russian institution.

The company was well-known for producing ballet superstars.

"He is out of step with what New Zealanders want to see in their theatres," said Mr Brown.

Skoog leaves next month to become artistic director of the English National Ballet.

His company's gala was to have been the perfect swansong.