Ross Stretton - Royal Ballet

Royal Ballet

Following Sir Anthony Dowell's retirement as Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet in 2001, the board of the Royal Opera House announced Stretton as his successor, with a three year contract, however he resigned the post after 13 months, in September 2002. Stretton's appointment and departure from the Royal Ballet generated the most unprecedented level of media attention for the Royal Ballet in recent years, due to controversy caused by his time at the company.

In the weeks preceding his resignation dancers from the company had threatened to go on strike in protest at Stretton's management style, objecting to Stretton's casting decisions, and to the fact that Stretton frequently made changes to advertised casts. At the time of Stretton's resignation sources at the Royal Opera House, the parent company of the Royal Ballet, suggested that Stretton's failure to develop satisfactory working relations with senior management contributed to his departure. Stretton's own statement hinted at artistic differences:

"Even though I have enormous respect for the great heritage of this company, my interest lies primarily in developing the future of ballet, and that is what I want to spend my time doing."

Following Stretton's departure Monica Mason, assistant director and a former principal dancer with the company, took his position, at first on an interim basis. Dame Monica was appointed Director of the Royal Ballet in December 2002.

It is claimed that a number of issues and allegations led to Stretton's departure from the Royal Ballet:

• Principal dancer Sarah Wildor quit the company after a dispute over casting
• Constant cast changes apparently lead to numerous arguments with Principal dancers
• Principal Character Artist David Drew declared Stretton's appointment as "a disaster for the company" in the Mail on Sunday
• Lady MacMillan threatened to withdraw performing rights to works by her late husband Sir Kenneth MacMillan
• Stretton's programming was badly received by critics
• Equity announced that dancers planned a vote no-confidence in Stretton
• Strike action and union involvement was threatened due to Stretton's management style
• Allegations were made that Stretton engaged in sexual liaisons and affairs with various dancers

The New York Times commented on the artistic and administrative approach of Stretton,

"In his focus on creativity and new choreographers to balance the existing repertory, Mr. Stretton was essentially implementing the policies he had observed at Ballet Theater. He had attempted to do the same as director of the Australian Ballet from 1997 to 2001. There again, he had run into opposition from some dancers and exponents of the status quo."