CAMBODIAN DANCERS DEFECT

At least six members of a touring group of dancers and musicians from Phnom Penh abandoned the troupe’s US tour Monday and appeared to be planning to seek US residency. “In Cambodia as a performer, you can hardly survive on that profession. There are no stages to perform on. There’s only one theater, and it’s been burned down. The government has no money to fix it up.” Washington Post 10/05/01

CANADIAN DANCER DEFECTS

Last spring Royal Winnipeg Ballet star Tara Birtwhistle quit the Winnipeg and joined Alberta Ballet. The Winnipeg is one of Canada’s top companies, and the move was seen as a coup for Alberta. But only a few weeks into the new season, Birtwhistle has quietly left Alberta and rejoined the Winnipeg… National Post (Canada) 10/05/01