Trouble at the top of the Split ballet.
The Council of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Split issued a final warning to ballet director Dinko Bogdanić, reports Vecernji List on December 19, 2015. The reason were his insults to Romanian ballerina Alexandra Bertea and the decision was announced by HNK manager Goran Golovko. “Mr. Bogdanić’s behaviour can occasionally be described as behaviour which can hurt people’s feelings and that is the reason why we have made this decision”, Golovko said.
President of the Council Inge Koludrović-Tomić said that the Council agreed with the manager’s decision and that some members of the ballet company had their feelings hurt. “It was found that Bogdanić apologized to everyone and that the apology was accepted. The members of the Council believe that, despite the successes which director has achieved during his tenure and numerous statements of witnesses in his favour, it is likely that a number of members of the ballet company felt that his behaviour offended their dignity. Since we believe that the theatre should not be a place of unfair treatment or harassment of employees, we support the decision made by manager Golovko”, Inge Koludrović-Tomić said.
Union representative Damir Punda doubted whether the decision would change anything. “If this penalty brings us some results, then it is justified, but the question is what will happen in the near future”, Punda said, adding that they have received two additional reports against Bogdanić.
The incident took place in early December during the rehearsals of the Nutcracker, when Bogdanić yelled and insulted Alexandra Bertea. Those present claim that later he broke a microphone and continued shouting at dancers who were taken aback by his reaction. The Romanian ballerina reported the event to the trade union representative Damir Punda and Romanian ambassador in Zagreb Cosmin George Dinescu, who contacted the manager of HNK in Split Goran Golovko and Croatian Culture Minister Berislav Šipuš.
