Airline strike postpones Chinese ballerina's arrival
Ballet Theater of Annapolis' new soloist, Chinese ballerina Zhirui Zou, has had a change of plans. She was supposed to arrive tomorrow on a Northwest Airlines flight, but the airline's pilots have been on strike since last weekend.
BTA artistic director Edward Stewart said the dancer has found a USAir flight that will bring her to the United States Saturday.
BTA had planned a welcome for Zou tomorrow, with flowers, members of the ballet and a translator. The strike put its plans in a holding pattern.
BTA has elected new officers and brought on six new board members.
John Menocal, BTA's technical director and husband of Heidi Menocal, a former dancer and current teacher, was elected president at the board's summer meeting. He is president of Corning of Maryland Inc., a general construction contracting company.
Dr. John L. Michie, a chiropractor at Broadneck Medical Center, Arnold, and Jeanette Wessel, former chief executive officer of the Anne Arundel Trade Council, are first and second vice presidents. William W. Larash Jr. will be treasurer; Charleen Keitel, assistant treasurer; Jane Lambert, secretary, and Sandra Murray, assistant secretary.
New board members are Caroline Christensen, director of financial aid at St. John's College; Jack Erdmann, senior systems analyst with Tracor Systems Technologies Inc. of Rockville; Judith Fey, who teaches dance at South River High School in Edgewater; Joan G. Hatfield, director of the Grassroots Program of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce; William W. Larash of Crownsville, president of Novotny, Larash & Grainger CPAs; and Annapolis Alderman Sheila M. Tolliver.
Continuing board members are Robert Agee, Lynda Fitzgerald, Stoddard Knowles, Karen Kruger, Linda Lamone, Sylvia Mitchell, Deborah Potter, Laurie Putscher, Victor A. Sulin, Suzanne G. Weber, Eugene M. Whissel II and ex officio members Janet M. Morgan, executive director, and Edward Stewart, artistic director.
Master class is full; observers to be admitted
In other BTA news, the master class by Susan Jaffe of American Ballet Theater is full. It will take place Sept. 14 on the stage of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. Observers will be admitted for a $10 fee. Information: 410-263-8289.
Pub Date: 9/03/98