NYC Ballet Shoots 2 Dancers on Photo Sharing Charges

Two dancers were fired by the New York City Ballet on Saturday accused of being part of a group of male dancers who inappropriately shared photos and videos of naked women.

The ballet company said that the main dancers, Amar Ramasar and Zachary Catazaro, as well as the third dancer, Chase Finlay, who resigned last month, "engaged in inappropriate, personal communications, behavior that NYCB expects from its employees. "

The layoffs took place after a woman who had been out with Finley, Alexandra Waterbury, said in a lawsuit this month that Finlay had sent explicit videos and photos of her taken without her knowledge to other men, including dancers.

In his lawsuit against City Ballet and Finlay, Waterbury claimed that the company tolerated an "atmosphere of brotherhood" where the dancers understood that they could "degrade, belittle, mistreat and abuse, attack and hit women without consequence".

The lawsuit stated that a male donor had written to Finlay to suggest that men should tie ballerinas "and abuse them like farm animals," to which Finlay responded, "or like the sluts that" They are. "

While denying that they had tolerated inappropriate behavior, company officials opened an investigation after being informed of the charges against Waterbury and planned to fire Finlay when he resigned, indicated the company.

Ramasar and Catazaro, who had been identified in the trial as having shared nude photos with Finlay, were initially suspended without pay until the company dismissed them on Saturday.

"I am deeply shocked and deeply saddened by the New York City Ballet's decision to fire me," Ramasar said in a statement on Saturday. "I am an honest and honorable person, and I have always treated everyone, including my colleagues, staff, friends and other NYCB members, with the utmost respect."

He said he once was a "poor and minority street in the Bronx and he stood up against all obstacles by working hard for everything I could do." Ramasar added that in the coming days, "I'll tell you by my side".

Katherine Brown, Executive Director of City Ballet, and Jonathan Stafford, Acting Artistic Team Leader, said, "We have no greater obligation than to ensure that our dancers and their staff feel respected and respected. valued. for all New York City Ballet employees. We will not allow the private actions of a few to compromise the hard work and strength of character that are consistently demonstrated by other members of our community or by the excellence of the company. "

A union representing Ramasar and Catazaro said he would contest the layoffs. "Based on all the information received from the company, the allegations relate entirely to non-professional activities and do not reach the level of" motivated dismissal, "said the American Guild of Musical Artists in a statement. "As AGMA would do for one of its members, we will soon be filing an arbitration appeal to enforce the labor rights of our members."

Catazaro said "deeply saddened" by the termination of his contract.

"I have worked all my life to reach the level of senior dancer in a company with the highest prestige, and I am devastated by the possibility of not being able to share the stage with the wonderful talented artists and my friends there. "he said in a statement, adding," I respect and admire all the ballerinas with which I dance in society and I strive every day to be the best possible partner. "

Supporters of Finlay, Ramasar and Catazaro leave City Ballet without three of the top 14 male dancers before the opening of the 2018-2019 season.

Ramasar had been a big star in the company, which also won awards for his performance as Jigger Craigin in the Broadway cover of "Carousel". A dancer's lawyer said Ramasar would be on stage for the final performances of "Carousel", which ends Sunday. A representative of "Carousel" did not immediately return an email requesting a comment.

The Waterbury lawyer did not immediately respond to an email requesting comments on the referrals from Ramasar and Catazaro.

After Waterbury filed his case on Sept. 4, a Finlay lawyer said the allegations "should not be considered facts."