Danish Dari German Spanish French Turkish Arabic
Click here to go to start page Click here to go to start page
Search Sort content by country/region Sort content by artist Sort content by subject
News stories world-wide
About music censorship
About Freemuse
Publications
Study room
Activities
Conferences & Events
Freemuse Awards
Music Freedom Day
Campaigns
Links
Press room

NEWS
17 June 2009

United Kingdom:
Visa system forces Welsh-based Russian ballet company to cancel shows

The Russian ballet company Ballet Russe based in Wales has been forced to cancel its 2009 programme and is facing an uncertain future, after failing to obtain visas for its dancers under a controversial new points-based system, wrote The Stage.

The Ballet Russe has operated out of Swansea’s Grand Theatre for 11 years. While it employs UK dancers, most of the principal roles are taken by Bolshoi and Kirov-trained Russian performers.

However, despite spending thousands of pounds on legal assistance, Ballet Russe officials have been unable to secure the return of six of their principal dancers, who had returned home to visit their families.

As a result, the company’s shows have been cancelled since February, causing it to lose box office income and forcing it to lay off ten British dancers.

Chika Temma, a director of Ballet Russe, told The Stage that the visa negotiations had taken so long, the Russian principals had found other work.





Click to open pdf
White paper on visa issues — 20 pages





Read Manifesto Club's report (in pdf format)
UK visa report by Manifesto Club — 20 pages

Source

The Stage – 9 June 2009:

'Visa system forces Welsh-based Russian ballet company to axe 2009 programme'


Go to top
Related reading on freemuse.org

US visa issues: Two orchestras forced to cancel their concerts
An American festival had to cancel two shows and two workshops by international artists due to visa problems and alleged embassy discrimination
26 September 2011
UK: Public letter calls for a new visa system for leading performers
A campaign to remove short-term visiting artists from the unnecessary bureaucracy nears a policy breakthrough, according to its campaigners
01 August 2011
USA: Jazz musician suspected as terrorist because of his Arabic name
An American jazz pianist's Arabic-sounding name allegedly made US officials suspect a link between his payment for a performance in Europe and possible terrorist activities
27 June 2011
Freemuse campaign: Visa issues damage the music industry
European countries need to make visa and work permit procedures and the general access to the European market for artists more flexible, transparent and homogenous
04 May 2011
Artist Visa Applications: Arguments for Success - a Quick Guide
A few references that you can mention when you argue for smooth visa handling while dealing with visa issuing offices and embassies
20 October 2010
EU policy library refers to Freemuse Visa White Paper
The Freemuse report ‘Visas / The Discordant Note’ has been included as an official research document in the EU Commission's 'Library of Policy Documents'
11 August 2010
Protest petition: African artist's tour cancelled due to blocked visas
A petition 'against EU visa discrimination of musicians’ was started after the European tour of Zimbabwean Mokoomba was forced to be cancelled
17 June 2009
UK: New visa rules threaten dozens of concerts and festivals
A report reveals that more than 20 major arts events have been cancelled or badly affected by new UK visa regulations
17 June 2009
UK: Visa system forces Russian ballet company to cancel shows
A Russian ballet company has been forced to cancel its 2009 programme after failing to obtain UK visas for its dancers in time
17 June 2009
Visa report highlighted but serious problems remain
While visa issues continue to create controversy, the Freemuse white paper ‘Visa / the discordant note’ plays an essential role in various international fora
17 June 2009
Sweden: Minister of Migration welcomes visa white paper
“The ‘white paper’ points its fingers at very essential problems,” said Tobias Billström, the Swedish Minister of Migration, in a live radio programme
21 January 2009
White paper launched at Womex: 'Visa issues – the discordant note'
White paper on visa issues launched at an international music trade fair: 'European countries need to make visa procedures more flexible, transparent and homogenous'
31 October 2008
Israel / Palestine: Orchestra prevented from entering Gaza
An international orchestra was refused to perform in Gaza after its sole Palestinian member was prevented from entering the Gaza Strip
17 December 2007
Freemuse campaign: Visa issues kill music
In collaboration with international artists organisations Freemuse launches an investigation of visa and work permit procedures in order to influence policy makers
26 November 2007
Musicians hit by the “9/11-effect”
Tighter restrictions on air travel means that musical instruments are no longer allowed on the plane as carry-on baggage. This has lead to cancellations of concerts and tours
11 September 2006
UK: "Cultural censorship" threatens artistic endeavours
Stringent immigration regulations have led to several foreign artists being denied entry into the UK, making it increasingly difficult to organise musical events featuring foreign artists
16 August 2006
Canada: American rappers barred from Canada
“Canada attempts to place US rappers in the same category as terrorists – literally,” said American rapper Jerome Almon, CEO of Murdercap Records.
24 May 2006
USA: 'Fortress America' denies access to musicians
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma leads an impassioned campaign to ease the visa crisis for musicians visiting the ‘Land of the Free’.
15 May 2006
Zimbabwean gospel diva Fungisai Zvakavapano denied UK visa
A London-based Zimbabwe news website quoted a British Embassy official as citing fear that she might not return to Zimbabwe after her tour as a reason for refusing her a visa
02 November 2004
New US study on cultural exchanges since September 11
U.S Homeland Security and State departments are encouraged to "work together to improve the current visa situation…so it is less of a barrier for foreign visitors, artists, and scholars, and for the presenters who invite them"
10 September 2004