From today’s Oregonian:
In yet another round of bad news for Portland’s arts scene, Oregon Ballet Theatre is cutting its budget 28 percent.
The ballet will go on. Just don’t expect a live orchestra at any OBT performances or quite as many dancers on stage next season.
Approved by OBT’s board of directors last week, the almost $2 million budget cuts kick in with the new fiscal year in July, reducing the annual budget from $6.7 million to slightly more than $4.8 million. Cuts will come from across-the-board salary reductions, consolidation of jobs, and layoffs. The number of full-time dancers will dip from 28 to 25.
and information about the costs of a live orchestra (but no mention of the benefits):
The cost of live music for the Oregon Ballet Theatre varies with the number of musicians needed for a given piece. Some rough ideas of cost:
•$12,000 For “The Nutcracker”
•$20,000 For “Bolero”