BALLET : Poison Pen Scam Hits Dancers
Dancers of the State Ballet of Rhode Island have been receiving phony letters telling them to quit for being fat, old or disruptive, and the artistic director blames another dance company.
Police said today they are checking fingerprints on the letters, which are typed on stationery resembling the ballet company’s and bear artistic director Herci Marsden’s forged signature.
“This is more than a prank,” said Detective David S. Ethier. “It’s (Marsden’s) business and personal reputation that has a chance of being destroyed.”
Marsden charged that another dance company, which she refused to identify, sent the poison pen letters in an attempt to steal her dancers.
One letter to an 11-year-old apprentice accused her of being disruptive.
“You are upsetting my girls and causing trouble in my school and in the ballet company,” the letter said. “Your family is also upsetting people. You are not to return here.”
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