Tonight's 'Nutcracker' Canceled In Dispute

Palmquist said this was an unacceptable ultimatum. "We said we're prepared to negotiate about any and all items contained in their interim agreement," said Palmquist, "but what we weren't prepared to do was to negotiate under the threat of strike. Because if the dancers were not going to perform Thursday night, the ballet had so much work to do to prepare for that."

Management rejected AGMA's document. Furthermore, it told the union that if the draft were not withdrawn by 5 p.m. Tuesday, management would cancel tonight's performance.

Yesterday management sent its version of an interim agreement to the union, which rejected it. AGMA Executive Director Alan Gordon said the plan did not guarantee job security for the term of the contract, but instead promised the dancers their jobs only through the end of the 2007 season. It did not contain what the union regards as a key provision: that the size of the company would stay the same.

Palmquist said his document was "as complete an interim agreement as we were capable of giving them." It included a 4 percent salary increase. But when the union did not sign it, he said, he had no choice but to cancel. "The alternative to canceling a performance is that patrons would show up, children would be excited to see 'The Nutcracker,' and the dancers would not appear on stage."

"I'm back where I was at the last 'Nutcracker,' " said Kallas, noting the irony that it was the arduous preparations for last year's "Nutcracker" -- the premiere of Artistic Director Septime Webre's version -- that drove the dancers to vote for union representation.

"They don't give a [expletive] about safety in this company," she said. "I believe they've decided it's either going to be Septime or the dancers."

"It's our most sincere hope that the dancers decide to come back to work," said Palmquist. "The idea of losing the 'Nutcracker' run would be devastating. It's our single greatest source of revenue. It's the mechanism by which we essentially fund the rest of the season. And losing the run of 'The Nutcracker' would call into question our ability to put on the rest of the season."

He said the full run of "The Nutcracker" had been expected to bring in $1.9 million, leading to a profit of about $900,000.

As of last night, Palmquist said no meetings were scheduled for today. AGMA representatives said they were willing to resume talks.

But Kallas emphasized that the union would not relent in its concerns for dancers' safety.

"They're not toasters," she said. "It's not like you break 'em and you buy a new one."