Small dance company steps up |By counting its pennies and seeking support in every corner of the community, the 11-year-old Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has managed to flourish in one of the most expensive towns in the United States.
The 10-member company makes its debut Monday evening at the Aspen Music Festival, an appearance both organizations hope will lead to further collaboration and perhaps even a joint commission.
The Post spoke to executive director Jean-Philippe Malaty about the upcoming performance as well as the financial health of the company and its future.
Q. How significant is the company’s appearance at the Aspen Music Festival?
A. We’ve been in existence for 11 years, and this is our first performance with live music at the music tent. So that alone, the first time in 11 years, is pretty significant for us.
It’s exciting for us, because it’s a collaboration between two major organizations in town. It’s a luxury to perform to live music, which we really don’t have very often. And it’s also a great opportunity to cross audiences.
Q. Is this a relationship you hope to continue?
A. We hope so. We, as a general rule, are not a one-time-shot organization. When we have a good relationship with a choreographer, for instance, we tend to bring them back over many years. Our dancers have been very loyal. We really believe in repetition and ownership.
Q. Can you recap why you weren’t able to hold the Aspen Dance Festival this summer?
A. We rent the (550-seat) Aspen District Theatre, which is part of the (Aspen) Elementary School. A couple of years ago, a bond issue passed in Aspen for the building of a new middle school. As part of the bond issue, they were going to put $1 million into upgrading the theater. Because it is a school campus, the only time they could access the theater and the classrooms was when the kids are out of school. So it had to be summertime.
We have known it was coming for a while. We’ve looked at other alternatives, but nothing really worked for us. There are very few venues suitable for dance in Aspen, and the venues we have are already in use.
Q. Will you be able to bring back the festival next year?
A. Oh yes, for sure. All repairs should be done by September and we have the winter season already scheduled.
Q. A year ago, you announced a $10 million endowment campaign. How much money have you raised?
A. We have reached the halfway point, so we have $5 million in gifts or pledges. It was a three-year campaign, so we have two years to go to reach our goal of $10 million. It’s the biggest undertaking we’ve had in the past 10 years. It’s a crucial part of the organization.
We have reached a point where we have maxed out all of our potential income. We tour. We did 35 or 38 cities this year by the time we finished. So the touring income is maximized. With 10 dancers, we could not be touring anymore. Any little girl who wants to take dance in the valley is already enrolled in our school. So the school is maxed out.
Everybody who wants to see dance – we have a big enough theater and we do multiple nights. So, our audience is really not growing.
The only way for us to sustain or improve what we do is the extra cash coming from investments-endowment. It’s the only way forward.
Q. I saw an Internet item mentioning a rumor that the company might abandon Aspen and shift its operations to Santa Fe. Is there any truth to that?
A. It was totally untrue and unfounded. Obviously, we have a building here, and we don’t have one in Santa Fe. We have been here for 11 years. The company was started in Aspen. The budget in Aspen varies from $2.5 million to $3 million. Our budget in Santa Fe is $700,000. We are not moving to Santa Fe.
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
DANCE|The 10-member company performs at the Aspen Music Festival with live accompaniment by pianist Simon Trpceski and others|Benedict Music Tent, Aspen Music Festival grounds; 8 p.m. Monday|$65 | 970-925-9042 or .
