According to a copyrighted story in the Star-Telegram by Andrew Marton, Texas Ballet Theater’s troubled financial status came to light after the organization announced on Wednesday, August 13, that it was canceling a proposed trip to China in October because it lacked $70,000 to fully fund the trip. The ballet later revealed that it has $800,000 in unpaid bills, and needs $110,000 to cover its biweekly payroll.

Texas Ballet Theater was organized as the Fort Worth Ballet in 1961 under the auspices of artistic director Margo Dean. It began a civic company, and then evolved into a civic regional ballet before its final transformation into a professional producing entity in 1984. Currently under the artistic direction of Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., it was announced earlier this year that Texas Ballet Theater would become the resident ballet company for the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts when it opens in 2009. a plan that now may be jeopardized by the group’s financial woes.

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