HIGH GEAR/NOVEMBER 1977

JEFF JONES AND THE GAY STATE OF BALLET

By John Nosek

While a friend and I were sharing raves about the fall performances of the Cleveland Ballet at a soiree the other night, the issue arose over the local gay support of this young, energetic troupe. My out-oftown chum remarked that regional homo patronage was not as prevelant as in comparably sized cities.

We explored the roots of this irrational reality. Sure, the infant Ballet is only in its second year and the ticket prices in this conservatively fiscal town might seem steep, but the CB has received ample publicity via the pages of High Gear. More importantly, its members have consistently voiced a strong link to the gay community.

Jeff Jones, a principal dancer in the Cleveland Ballet, went so far as to observe that "people think nothing of laying down forty dollars for an ounce of grass, but they cringe at parting with $10 for a ballet ticket."

Indeed, it is baffling that gays aren't flocking to the ballet strictly for its sensuality. "Ontogeny," a breath-taking interpretation of the life of an organism, is rampant with homo erotic overtones, and segments of "Things Our Fathers Loved" portray the love of two family members sexually, but not in an

insensitive manner.

The lack of more extensive gay (and black) support of the Cleveland Ballet is a major concern of the 21 year old Jeff Jones. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Jeff comes to the CB from Ballet Repertory Company (American Ballet Theatre's Second Company). His professional dance experience includes performing with the ABT, "Joey Harris (The Group)," Harkness Ballet and a season with "Nureyev and Friends." Jeff is a major dancer with the Cleveland Ballet, having appeared in a multitude of performances, including "Mendelssohn's Symphony" and the upcoming Christmas ballet, "The Gift."

A hyperkinetic child, Jeff became involved with dance at the age of eight: "My mother gave me a choice between bailet and cub scouts. I was an only child and with my father away in the Air Force, I had a lot of available time. 1 auditioned for a Ford Foundation scholarship and they paid for my classes from ages nine to thirteen."

It was in New York, while with the ABT two years ago, that Jeff spoke to Dennis Nahat (Associated Director of CB) about joining the Cleveland company. He does not regret his decision: "I love Dennis and Ernie (lan Horvath, Artistic Directer) qremendously. I've learned so much in a year and a half and couldn't ask for better working conditions. The Cleveland Ballet organization is like family The respect ach other and it

eat-dog thing here like in New York. Frankly, the training is the best I've ever seen anywhere. Here you must be versatile, whereas in other companies people are caught up in the "Swan Lake" syndrome."

The discipline required by all company members is evident in their rigorous schedules. -Sunday through Friday classes are held from 10-11:30 a.m. Rehearsal is from 11:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and when actual stage rehearsals are called for, they often run until 11 p.m. The only free day is Saturday and even then many CB dancers teach ballet classes at the CB Studio. It is little wonder that Jeff remarks, "It's impossible to maintain a relationship with someone. They often can't appreciate the time and commitment a ballet dancer must give."

I asked Jeff if he felt the best dancers are those who are expressive actors: "Not necessarily because in dance you must be honest with yourself. The audience knows if you're lying. There's a difference between being a performer and an actor. You can be a character, but the performance must be your own feeling."

While no one can argue that the Cleveland Ballet (thanks to Mr. Nahat) is one of the nation's most innovative dance enterprises, criticism has surfaced over the inconsistent expertise of dance members with classical selections. This, no doubt is one obstacle preventing wider recognition of the troupe.

Commented Jeff: "The fact is that people are on different levels of technical achievement. Until that's more stabilized and it will be we won't be ready to go on national tour. But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the Christmas ballet. It will not be a "Nutcracker." The first part will deal with the birth of Jesus and the travels of his family from Bethlehem. There will be thieves, whores, etc. The second part will feature Dennis and me as father and son chimney sweeps in a poor family of the early nineteenth century. It will be quite remarkable."

Historically, the ballet has shunned same sex immediacy, no doubt, restricting the wealth of possible dance expressions. This, however, seems to be changing. When asked if he could ever imagine one acting as a porter to another member of his/her own sex, Jeff responded, "W's a great possibility. Though there's little physical contact, there's same sex coupling in Rivaldi's classical "Contra Concerti." It's time for more things to happen, not necessarily sexually. Personally, I love working with Ernie (lan Horvath) on stage. We feed off of each other and we have a good time."

The arts have always been the one group discipline where people could express their

sexual preferences openly; this has not been the case so much with ballet. Jeff commented: "Of course, it's becoming easier and easier. Politically, you never know who's 'out to get you.' If you're becoming successful, greedy, envious people may want to hurt you or the company. Only if you're extremely established can it not make any difference. And, let's face it, the audience is predominately straight."

tending the performances? They're certainly cruisy enough and the quality and diversity of patrons are there. The fact of the matter is that it takes only one visit to fully appreciate the visual impact and emotional intensity of ballet and then, one is irrevocably addicted.

From the comic antics of "Three Virgins and a Devil" to the classic gracefulness of Mendelssohn to the sensuality of "Ontogeny" and to the American traditional dance heritage in "US," there is an exat-citement innate to ballet which..

And it is that last comment which brings us full circle. Why aren't more gay people

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not only defies literary description, but makes one thirst for more.

Adds Jeff: "We do need more

gay and black people in our audience. A lot of gay people have hang ups and they don't know what they are. Some of the ballet we do, like "Ontogeny" can be a release and the opening of a door. Even just coming to talk with some of the dancers can be beneficial."

And that certainly proved to be true.

GAY SEXUALITY WORKSHOP

EXPLORING YOUR SEXUALITY: FOR GAY MEN***

DAVID HOLLEB

November 19, Saturday, 10am-6pm.

This workshop will be designed to help you explore your sexuality as gay men. We will deal with issues surrounding our sexuality as well as those related to our being a sexual minority. Areas covered will include: coming out. homophobia. relationships, sexism. sexual experiences, and stereotypes. During the day we'll also view sexually explicit films. Society has socialized us to see our sexuality as separate from ourselves and we have been programmed into specific roles and behaviors instead of having the freedom to choose in a non-sexist and valueless environment

Fee: $30 (sliding fee scale available)

DAVID HOLLEB, B.A. Psychology, la presently doing biofeedback and sex therapy in private practice under medical supervision. He has been guiding meditation groups for 2 years and previously lived and studied in India under many teachers. David is exploring new ways of helping people in realizing their human potential through integrating meditation, transpersonal awareness, and sexuality. David is co-founder of the Forum For Human Sexuality and is on the regional program committee for the Association for Humanistic Psychology, which he is active in both locally and nationally. He is also a member of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, the Biofeedback Society, and the American Association of Biofeedback Clinicians. He has done training at the National Sex Forum.

The Workshop Will be held at HORIZONS GROWTH CENTER 2140 LEE ROAD

CLEVELAND HTS., OH 44118

Call 321-8189 for information and registration, and for or our Fall Winter catalog of events