A Bolshoi loss may be NYC again

Alexei Ratmansky, artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, plans to leave the Bolshoi and is negotiating with New York City Ballet to become its resident choreographer.

Reached Tuesday in Orange County, where he is choreographing a new ballet for Russian ballerina Diana Vishneva, Ratmansky confirmed the negotiations but said “it’s a bit early to say anything. My contract with the Bolshoi expires at the end of this year, and I will not be continuing as director, but I still have plans to choreograph some ballets for them. I hope that relationship will not break. I don’t want to say anything else, and I don’t have to say anything else. I think I want to concentrate on choreography more, and that’s why I am not continuing the contract with the Bolshoi.”

City Ballet spokesman Robert Daniels said Ratmansky is coming to New York this weekend to discuss the post.

Ratmansky’s piece for Vishneva will be on the program in the world premiere of “Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion,” opening next week at the Orange County Performing Artscenter.

-- Diane Haithman