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Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over "inappropriate communications"- Page 5

Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over "inappropriate communications"

LarryD2
#100Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 10:05am

The Distinctive Baritone said: "They have no legal ability to fire him, as it had nothing to do with anyone in the production."

Without having access to Ramasar's specific contract, I imagine this is the case. Of course, if the producers wanted him gone, they could try to quietly remove him from the production by offering to pay out his contract and put his understudy on for the rest of the run. I wonder if they have approached him with such an offer and whether he turned it down.

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Elegance101
#101Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 11:16am

LarryD2 said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "They have no legal ability to fire him, as it had nothing to do with anyone in the production."

Without having access to Ramasar's specific contract, I imagine this is the case. Of course, if the producers wanted him gone, they could try to quietly remove him from the production by offering to pay out his contract and put his understudy on for the rest of the run. I wonder if they have approached him with such an offer and whether he turned it down.
"

Can he just turn that down? I actually don’t know, but I would hope that if the producers wanted him gone, they could have him gone in the manner you described. Of course, he could refuse, but I feel like he doesn’t have much room to fight back.

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Andy51
#102Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 12:30pm

I was at the show Friday night.  I found Ramasar's presence objectionable and somewhat distracting given what has been reported about his actions.  I think if there were broader public/audience awareness of the situation, the producers would pull him.  I'd be curious to hear how well his understudy performed.  Ramasar is -- apart from his dancing -- the one weak link in the cast.  But I suspect it's not easy to find someone who can dance at his level and also both act and sing well.  At least Jigger is an a-hole, which avoids the problem of having to suspend disbelief.

 

 

JBC3
#103Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 12:53pm

Do theatre performer contracts not have a blanket morals clause similar to what movies and corporations often use?

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LizzieCurry
#104Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 4:35pm

Andy51, I was also at the show on Friday and had the same reaction you did. The audience reaction at the curtain call (though this may be confirmation bias) struck me, too — like there were pockets of people who were quiet, as if they knew what was up, and everyone else was cheering.


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

KathyNYC2
#105Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 8:25pm

I saw this for the first time this past Saturday matinee and though I remembered the news about the ballet suspensions, I forgot it included the actor playing Jigger. I just kept thinking during the show that I thought the actor seemed miscast and I didn’t enjoy his performance at all. Now I’m wondering if audience reaction colored my views.

And given the scene he has to play with Carrie, it’s doubly creepy to think what’s going on in his real life. I’m kinda glad I didn’t remember.

OnBroadway4
#106Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/9/18 at 9:48pm

KathyNYC2 said: "I saw this for the first time this past Saturday matinee and though I remembered the news about the ballet suspensions, I forgot it included the actor playing Jigger. I just kept thinking during the show that I thought the actor seemed miscast and I didn’t enjoy his performance at all. Now I’m wondering if audience reaction colored my views.

And given the scene he has to play with Carrie, it’s doubly creepy to think what’s going on in his real life. I’m kinda glad I didn’t remember.
"

I didn't remember the incident either when I watched the performance last weekend during a Saturday matinee. However, I did think that the scene between Carrie and Jigger - there's a bit of humor painted over the situation but I remembering feeling that the audience was oddly more quiet or held back then at other scenes. 

I did enjoy his performance as Jigger.

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newintown
#107Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/10/18 at 8:56am

JBC3 asked "Do theatre performer contracts not have a blanket morals clause similar to what movies and corporations often use?"

Would James Barbour ever work again if they did?

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starcatchers
#108Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 6:24pm

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwwGwUDod9/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=6ibwz2qfjvor

Can’t seem to make this clickable as I’m on my phone, but it’s him basically saying NYCB made a mistake, and apparently the union is fighting his termination. 


the artist formerly known as dancingthrulife04 Check out my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dreamanddrift And please consider donating to my Ride to Remember, benefitting the Alzheimer's Association: http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=8200&pg=personal&px=6681234
Updated On: 9/15/18 at 06:24 PM

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GeorgeandDot
#109Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 7:01pm

His performance as Jigger is one of the worst performances that I have ever seen. It's certainly the worst acting performance that I have ever seen on the Broadway stage.

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NievesG
#110Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 7:06pm

His IG post isn't really surprising but some of the comments on it and previous photos are.

CedricOates
#111Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 7:43pm

If he actually exchanged nude photos of women, especially one of them being in the NYCB, it’s inexcusable. No matter what side of his story is.

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Elegance101
#112Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 10:00pm

All of the comments on his post are shocking. Why are so many people supporting him?

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The Distinctive Baritone
#113Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 10:02pm

Wow, the love he is getting on Instagram is bewildering. If he did send a nude pic of a fellow employee to another employee, then this is an open and shut case. What he did would get him fired at literally any other job. Why should it be different for dancers?

VintageSnarker
#114Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 11:17pm

starcatchers said: "https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwwGwUDod9/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=6ibwz2qfjvor

Can’t seem to make this clickable as I’m on my phone, but it’s him basically saying NYCB made a mistake, and apparently the union is fighting his termination.
"

That's a weird post. What could the mistake be unless he wasn't involved (which doesn't make sense if they have written communication that proves he participated in this)? I'm glad I didn't know any of this when I saw the show today. It's disappointing that he's still performing if the allegations are true. 

 

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pinoyidol2006
#115Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 11:17pm

I'm curious if he's fighting it because he's the recipient of the non-consensual photographs and not the sender?

The lawsuit says he sent photos back of a different NYCB dancer. Maybe that dancer knew and gave consent to send the pics to Finlay (the guy being sued). Otherwise, I can't fathom why AGMA would defend someone who violated one of their members.

Edit:
Statement from the AGMA (via the Daily Mail): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6172617/Two-male-New-York-City-Ballet-principal-dancers-FIRED-explicit-photo-scandal.html

'Based on all the information received from the company, the allegations relate entirely to non-work-related activity and do not rise to the level of "just cause" termination,' the union said in a statement. 'As AGMA would do for any of its members, we will soon be filing for arbitration to enforce our members’ employment rights.'

That's insane.


I like your imperturbable perspicacity.
Updated On: 9/15/18 at 11:17 PM

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NoName3
#116Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/15/18 at 11:19pm

Amar's suspension has been turned into a termination by the City Ballet.

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The Distinctive Baritone
#117Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 11:44am

Curious to hear if he performs at the closing matinee today, and if so, what the audience reaction is.

Also, shame on AGMA. If this happened in an AEA production, I doubt the union would take sides with Ramasar. If I did what he did among teachers at my school, I would totally be fired. So would anyone in just about any other job. If it involves other employees, it doesn’t matter if it’s “off the clock” or not.

Part of me feels bad for him, since he may very well be a decent guy overall, and it took him literally about ten seconds to ruin his career, but that’s how the world works - especially now that it is finally expected that women are (gasp) treated with basic respect.

I think that if NYCB did indeed allow for a fraternity-like atmosphere among the straight male dancers, then they are also to blame. Ramasar has been with the company for like 17 years, and all of the sudden the standards of behavior in show business have changed in the Me Too movement. He screwed up royally, but it sounds like he was also in an environment that fostered that kind of behavior.

Mediamaven2
#118Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 11:48am

pinoyidol2006 said: "I'm curious if he's fighting it because he's the recipient of the non-consensual photographs and not the sender?

The lawsuit says he sent photos back of a different NYCB dancer. Maybe that dancer knew and gave consent to send the pics to Finlay (the guy being sued). Otherwise, I can't fathom why AGMA would defend someone who violated one of their members.

Edit:
Statement from the AGMA (via the Daily Mail): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6172617/Two-male-New-York-City-Ballet-principal-dancers-FIRED-explicit-photo-scandal.html

'Based on all the information received from the company, the allegations relate entirely to non-work-related activity and do not rise to the level of "just cause" termination,' the union said in a statement. 'As AGMA would do for any of its members, we will soon be filing for arbitration to enforce our members’ employment rights.'


I am a fan of NYCB and particularly Amar Ramasar. He is a great dancer, tremendous charismatic presence IMHO.  In any event, I completely agree with you above quoted post - we really don't know exactly what is its that the Amar and Zachary did that was so terrible to merit termination. Chase is the one who violated the privacy of the former dancer by filming w/o permission and then again w/o permission disseminating that video. She is suing him and NYCB (frankly taking advantage of the Peter Martins situation as this was 'off' job behavior that had nothing to do with NYCB I would argue). By suing NYCB she gets all this attention and possible payout. Why are the dancers named but not the donor?

I think the whole thing is terribly unfair to Amar and Zachary. I am very sad for them. 

Why are the dancers named but not the donor?

I am also waiting to hear the name. I am not sure why it's not been spilled. There must be alot of people who actually know the name...so come on, who is it?

 

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The Distinctive Baritone
#119Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 2:10pm

It’s in various articles, although she should not be the focus.

It sounds like you are letting your admiration for Ramasar’s dancing to cloud your view of this. He deserved to be fired. However, this doesn’t necessarily make him a bad person if it was an isolated incident. Maybe he’s generally a really nice guy - but it doesn’t matter. Sending a topless pic of an employee to another employee is absolutely grounds for termination. I’m baffled at how this is even an argument for some people.

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Wick3
#120Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:18pm

The NYT article stated the donor donated around $12k from 2010-2016 and was a member of the young patron’s circle so it sounds like he is in his 30s/40s.
Anyway, i do agree we all don’t know all the details. It would be fair to hear Amar’s side of the story and then judge thereafter.

Mediamaven2
#121Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:22pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "It’s in various articles, although she should not be the focus.

It sounds like you are letting your admiration for Ramasar’s dancing to cloud your view of this. He deserved to be fired. However, this doesn’t necessarily make him a bad person if it was an isolated incident. Maybe he’s generally a really nice guy - but it doesn’t matter. Sending a topless pic of an employee to another employee is absolutely grounds for termination. I’m baffled at how this is even an argument for some people.
"

I know the name of the plaintiff- you are right it IS in all of the articles. The name of the "donor" also involved is not. That is what I want to know, that is what many must know but has not been published. Why?

You are right:  I am letting my fandom of Amar cloud  my judgment. 

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PalJoey
#122Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:57pm

A poster on the Amar Ramasar Facebook fan page named Lisa Mehigan posted this publicly:

===

I post this template for a letter to the Board at NYCB. It's not perfect but it saves you from having to compose one of your own. If you like, alter it to suit your view. Either print and mail it or email it. I sent mine to Kbrown@nycballet.com, a guess at the company's Executive Director's email. Alternatively, you could bombard info@nycballet.com.

Mr. Charles W. Scharf, Chairman
Board of Directors
The New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
20 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY

September 16, 2018

Dear Mr. Scharf and Members of the New York City Ballet Board of Directors:

I write today to object to the abrupt termination of principal male dancers Amar Ramasar and Zachary Catazaro from New York City Ballet’s roster as a result of recent allegations detailed in a lawsuit brought by Ms. Alexandra Waterbury. It is my understanding that they were not directly involved with Ms. Waterbury’s complaint but, rather, tangentially caught up in an admittedly ill-advised texting chain, conducted, they thought, privately, among friends. It seems that being tinged by the greater scandal is the reason for their firing but no one has a complete picture of what exactly occurred and won’t until all sides of the situation have been presented.

I understand that City Ballet values its reputation but shouldn’t doing so include being fair to employees who haven’t been allowed to defend themselves against guilt by association? I urge you to reconsider your stance in this matter. A penalty of temporary suspension for their poor judgment had already been imposed. That, plus the damage to their reputation, seems, in my opinion, to have been an appropriate action.

I am disappointed in what I consider to be your knee-jerk reaction and condemnation of these two dancers without adequate consideration for their long-term record of total dedication to the company. Please allow them to defend themselves.

Best regards,


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Bwayfan292
#123Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 4:05pm

I mean if he was fired, they had evidence to justify firing him. I dont get why people are defending him.


"Why was my post about my post being deleted, deleted, causing my account to be banned from posting" - The Lion Roars 2k18

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Elegance101
#124Amar Ramasar (Jigger in CAROUSEL) suspended from NYCB over
Posted: 9/16/18 at 4:49pm

Bwayfan292 said: "I mean if he was fired, they had evidence to justify firing him. I dont get why people are defending him."

My thoughts exactly. I’m kind of horrified, especially in the climate we’ve been in for the past year in the entertainment industry.


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