Ballet Western Reserve cuts ties with Kmiec

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Ballet Western Reserve has ended its relationship with Stas Kmiec, who had been the artistic director of the downtown dance school for about a year and a half.

“Following the successful conclusion of ‘A Youngstown Nutcracker’ [in December], choreographer and director Stas Kmiec and the board of directors of Ballet Western Reserve have agreed to terminate their relationship effective immediately to allow Kmiec to pursue other opportunities,” said Sabrina Shapiro, president of the BWR board, in a statement this week.

Kmiec, of New York City, signed a two-year contract in August 2014. He also had temporarily served in that capacity in 2011, and had been serving as interim director for several months when he was hired.

Shapiro said the BWR board is considering a change in its management structure. It is currently searching for a new executive director to run the school on a daily basis. In the scenario under consideration, artistic directors would be hired on a temporary basis to handle each performance. “This might make more sense,” said Shapiro.

The school presents several performances each year, and its students and faculty routinely appear on stage with other local theater and opera companies.

The school’s faculty members are handling artistic director duties for the present time. The board hopes to hire replacements by summer.

Kmiec has returned to his home in New York, where he is reconnecting with arts outlets he had been involved with prior to his BWR stint. These include the National Dance Institute and a musical theater partnership between a conservatory in New York and an academy in Poland.

He also has been hired on a film project. “Beginning next week I will be the dance advisor and choreographer on a film called ‘The Comedian,’ staring Robert DeNiro,” he said, adding “I am happy to be back in New York doing what I love to do.”

Kmiec’s extensive professional dance credits include performing with the Boston Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Stars of American Ballet, and touring with Rudolf Nureyev. He also has worked on Broadway, in national theatrical tours and also in television and film.