CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Ballet has severed all ties with the School of Cleveland Ballet, which was co-founded by its currently suspended Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe, and will now be launching its own dance academy in mid-January amid an investigation into "serious and disturbing workplace allegations."
The Cleveland Ballet updated its website on Jan. 2 to remove information about the School of Cleveland Ballet, which is also known as the Cleveland School of Dance, putting the public on notice that the two groups are separate organizations which no longer have any association with each other.
"In 2015, the Cleveland School of Dance began operating as the 'School of the Cleveland Ballet.' However, the school and Cleveland Ballet have always been separate entities with different governing boards – and separate 501(c)(3) designations. Simply put, while the two organizations enjoyed a partnership, they were – and remain – wholly independent of each other," the website explains.
"Recently the Cleveland School of Dance terminated the faculty positions of Cleveland Ballet professional dancers, effectively ending its partnership with Cleveland Ballet.
"We strongly believe that the most important part of a school is the teachers. And we know Cleveland Ballet dancers are outstanding teachers. And so, we have opened a dance academy that is owned and operated by Cleveland Ballet – The Academy of Cleveland Ballet."
3News learned on Dec. 30 that despite being suspended from the Cleveland Ballet due to an ongoing investigation into body size discrimination, toxic workplace behavior, and plagiarism, Guadalupe had intended to resume teaching dance to students at the School of Cleveland Ballet and had fired all instructors who currently dance for the Cleveland Ballet company. At that time, WKYC immediately reached out to the Cleveland Ballet board of directors seeking comment, and have not yet received a reply.
In the meantime, 3News obtained a copy of a schedule of classes that listed Guadalupe as an instructor slated to teach courses on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday of this week. It read at the top, "Schedule subject to change on short notice."
On Tuesday at 4:45 p.m., the operator of the Facebook page for the School of Cleveland Ballet reposted this public post by Guadalupe, which was published at 3:26 PM:
"On this very same day, January 2, 1934, exactly 90 years ago, George Balanchine and Lincoln Kristein opened School of American Ballet (SAB) where I had the privilege to be a scholarship student. Today, I have 3 former students graduates (sic) from our school dancing in New York City Ballet, SAB being the company’s official school. Today, I welcome to Cleveland School of (sic) (DBA School of Cleveland Ballet) to continue our 2023/2024 school year. For the last 23 years since founding Cleveland Scool (sic) of Dance we have put all of our efforts, talents, knowledge and experience to develop great people and great dancers and will continue to do so for years ahead. Happy New Year. Ms. G"
As of 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Facebook page for the School of Cleveland Ballet listed the same address as the Cleveland Ballet. That address is 23030 Miles Road, Cleveland, OH. 3News initially reported that it was not clear at that time whether School of Cleveland Ballet classes would go on as planned this week or in the future, or whether Guadalupe would be teaching any of those courses., and that it was also unclear where those classes will take place.
Subsequent to this article initially being published, Svetlana Stolyarova, a supporter of Guadalupe's told 3News in a Facebook comment posted at 10:43 PM on Wednesday:
"Your speculation about the address discrepancy and doubt regarding the possibility of classes at the School founded and led by Gladisa Guadalupe is misinformed. The reality is that there are two distinct spaces within the same building, each governed by separate lease agreements."
It remains clear that the School of Cleveland Ballet no longer has any affiliation whatsoever with the Cleveland Ballet company, which is now being led by second interim Chief Executive Officer Larry Goodman.
Guadalupe's husband, former Cleveland Ballet President Michael Krasnyanksy, resigned from both the Cleveland Ballet and as Chair of the Board of the School of Cleveland Ballet on Nov. 22.
Stolyarova, who created a Change.org petition in support of reinstating Guadalupe as Artistic Director of the Cleveland Ballet, referenced this reporting about the Cleveland Ballet's new dance academy and posted the following, in part, in an update to that petition published on Jan. 3:
"Unfortunately, it seems that the Cleveland Ballet is not inclined to reinstate Gladisa Guadalupe. This lack of reinstatement led to the Cleveland Ballet's decision to initiate a competing Academy, resulting in the recent developments highlighted in the publication.
It's evident that the Cleveland Ballet's actions, including the announcement about the launch of a new academy and the use of a schedule resembling the School of Dance's, indicate their stance against reinstating Gladisa Guadalupe.
Given these circumstances and the clear divergence in directions, it appears we may need to consider the closure of the petition at some point."
We first reached out to the Cleveland Ballet board of directors with questions about body size discrimination, toxic workplace behavior, plagiarism, and other allegations on Oct. 30. On Nov. 3, the Board told us, in part:
"Serious and disturbing allegations have been raised concerning Cleveland Ballet. The Board of Directors takes these allegations seriously and is focusing its energy on reviewing the Ballet’s operations and responding appropriately. The matter is being addressed by the independent Board members not part of the Ballet’s operations.
"The Board is intent on fixing anything that emerges from these internal and external reviews that diminishes its unwavering commitment to maintaining a safe, productive, diverse, inclusive, professional, collegial and secure work environment in which all artists and staff are treated with respect and dignity. The Board will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, inappropriate or abusive conduct against dancers, staff, vendors, or any other individuals who conduct business with Cleveland Ballet."
In response to follow-up questions from 3News, the Cleveland Ballet Chair of the Board Michael Frank provided the following statement on Nov. 17:
"The scope of the independent external investigation commissioned by the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Ballet encompasses any and all allegations about any acts or conditions which are inconsistent with the professional and ethical standards embraced by the Board. That investigation is ongoing and until such time as there is a reasonable basis for the Board to draw conclusions as to any of the allegations we will have no additional comments."
Read 3News Investigates previous coverage of the investigation into the Cleveland Ballet below: