Indianapolis ballet troupe closes its shop

Ballet Internationale, the oldest professional ballet company in Indianapolis, closed its doors this week after 32 years, apparently because of financial problems, the Indianapolis Star reports.

According to the paper, the company also closed its affiliate academy and satellite operations and canceled its performances of “The Nutcracker,” scheduled for Dec. 16-23 at Indianapolis’ Murat Centre. The company, led by Kirov Ballet veteran Eldar Aliev, performed its “Nutcracker” at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the Cal State Los Angeles campus in 2004.

The Star reported that officials at the company studios would not comment but that board President Pat Burley had issued a statement saying that a review of the organization’s financial situation had determined that the company “is not viable in Indianapolis under the current structure.” Burley added that a bankruptcy filing would be forthcoming.

Though he could not be reached for comment Friday, artistic director Aliev may have seen the writing on the wall. Earlier this year, The Times reported that Aliev had proposed moving his Russian-style troupe to Los Angeles to become the resident dance company at the Music Center.