Le Ballet National du Dementlieu

The Ballet National du Dementlieu is a venerable and troubled institution based in Port-a-Lucine. Recent problems include the following: the entirety of ballet's performers and much of its artistic direction vanished without a trace en route to Viaki while touring Darkon in 758 BC; the adaptation of Vecheq's Raven Field for the 757 BC season precipitated a diplomatic incident between Borca and Dementlieu; and gross financial improprieities led to the institution being shuttered in 746 BC for two years. Efforts to get the institution back up on its feet are, however, going well enough and it expects to be back in business for the 761 BC season.

The national ballet is heavily subsided by the state which deems it to be a jewel in cultural crown of Dementlieu. This funding has always come with strings. Ballets must be approved, and are subject to modification, by a state censor. Well-connected, but not necessarily competent, individuals are frequently thrust upon the institution, inspiring great jealousy and invariably harming the quality of the ballets that it stages. Even the number of seats that are full on a given night is, to a significant degree, a function of government whim. The house will invariably be packed with nobles and well-to-do merchants when a foreign dignity is invited to attend the ballet in the company of the Lord-Gouvernor or certain members of the Council of Brilliance. On other many others nights tickets might as well be given away for free at the door.[[Category:]][[Category:]][[Category:]][[Category:]]