Royal Ballet dancers set to revolt

Dancers at the Royal Ballet are close to revolt over casting decisions taken by their artistic director.

They claim Ross Stretton, appointed from the prestigious Australian Ballet with a brief to bring innovation to the company, has kept them in the dark over the roles they will play and the productions they will appear in.

Almost a year after Mr Stretton was brought in, critics are disappointed with his repertoire and the dancers are said to be ready to mutiny.

It is understood that members of the Royal Ballet in the performers' union Equity considered passing a vote of no confidence in Mr Stretton. But they have instead asked union executives to raise "a number of serious concerns" over Mr Stretton's management style with Tony Hall, executive director of the Royal Ballet's home, the Royal Opera House. A meeting is set for next Tuesday.

Neither Mr Hall nor the union would discuss the matter. But a source close to the dancers said: "We want the union to tackle the way productions are cast. There is a complete lack of information. We never know whether we will be involved in a production or when that will be."

He added: "It should matter to the public too, because they are buying tickets to see certain dancers, but then the cast is changed. And when a production has been marketed using a person's name, that isn't fair."

Out of 22 Royal Ballet summer season shows, reportedly only two appeared with the cast originally announced. Among the disappointments for audiences, who had paid up to £65 for tickets, was the absence of Darcey Bussell from Don Quixote and Tamara Rojo from Onegin.

Martin Brown of Equity said: "Our members have expressed disquiet over a number of management matters. We hope that we can resolve their concerns through discussion."

He said that the union had more than 80 members among the company and that meetings had been "well attended".

Mr Stretton, 50, was assistant director of the American Ballet Theatre during much of the 1980s and 1990s, before returning to the Australian Ballet as director. He had previously been the company's principal dancer.

When he was appointed to the Royal Ballet he announced that new choreography was "the lifeblood of any company". But last year he brought in only one new work, by Christopher Wheeldon, and has announced only one more, by David Bintley.

Mr Stretton was unavailable for comment today.

A spokesman for the Royal Ballet said: "There will be a meeting shortly to discuss the various concerns that Equity will bring to the executive director and they will be dealt with accordingly."