Bolshoi ballet star Tsiskaridze in partial court victory
Tsiskaridze reprimand struck off but another upheld amid bitter rifts in ballet company
A Moscow court yesterday partially backed a star dancer in his dispute with the Bolshoi Theatre that laid bare bitter internal divisions at the ballet company after the acid attack on artistic director Sergei Filin.
Nikolai Tsiskaridze, 39, a flamboyant top-ranking dancer at the theatre, was penalised by the Bolshoi after he criticised general director Anatoly Iksanov and other managers, called for them to be sacked and for him to run the theatre himself.
The court ruled to cancel one reprimand issued by the Bolshoi but upheld a second one, leaving Tsiskaridze unable to disguise his disappointment in characteristically theatrical style.
I can't see any difference between the reprimands. This baiting of an artist has been going on for more than a year
"I can't see any difference between the reprimands. This baiting of an artist has been going on for more than a year," Tsiskaridze said, adding he intended to appeal. The Bolshoi said it might also appeal the decision.
Two official reprimands were enough grounds for the Bolshoi to sack Tsiskaridze, although it had not taken steps to do so.
Judge Yevgeny Komissarov ruled that one reprimand should be lifted for a phone interview to the Moskovsky Komsomolets popular daily where Tsiskaridze insisted that he was not involved in the acid attack.
This was a partial victory for Tsiskaridze who had queried the theatre's rule that dancers should not give interviews without going through its press service.