Byelorussian Ballet Cancels ‘Nutcracker’ : Dance: ‘Visa problems’ and disappointing advance sales are cited. But promoters say that the company is still slated to open next Friday with ‘Romeo and Juliet.’

With promoters giving conflicting explanations, the touring Byelorussian Ballet of Minsk has canceled all four of its scheduled “Nutcracker” performances in San Diego. The Tuesday through Thursday performances would have been the company’s U.S. debut.

In addition, three of its 11 scheduled Los Angeles performances in Shrine Auditorium also have been canceled, but promoters say the 150-member company is still slated to open next Friday with “Romeo and Juliet” and complete its run, now ending on Dec. 14.

The canceled dates in Los Angeles include Dec. 10, 11 and 15, all performances of “The Nutcracker.”

According to Jane Summer, spokeswoman for the touring company, one member of the troupe’s tour management in Thailand cited “visa problems” for the cancellations, while another claimed that disappointing advance sales were responsible.

“The sets (for ‘Romeo and Juliet’) have arrived here in Los Angeles, so we are assuming that the promoter, International Cultural Promotions Ltd. of Bangkok, intends at least to put on one ballet here,” Summer said.

The revised schedule: “Romeo and Juliet,” choreographed by Valentin Yelizariev, chief ballet master, Dec. 6 and 7; and “The Nutcracker” Dec. 12, 13 and 14.

The tour, the company’s first to the United States, is touted to include 20 tons of props and costumes and a full symphony orchestra. The company announced it would perform “The Nutcracker” and a full-length production of “Spartacus” when the tour was announced last fall, but early on replaced the spectacle with the tragic “Romeo.”

Publicized as one of three of the 61 ballet companies in the Soviet Union to receive the title of Bolshoi, the company is somewhat a mystery. According to its press materials, it was formed in 1918 and has its own school, where it makes all its props, costumes and shoes. The principal dancers are listed as Inessa Dushkevich, Tatiana Shemotovets and Veniamine Zaharov.