Judith WHEN THE news came just over a week .ago, North Vancouver's Judith Marcuse Dance Company had been enjoying a successful season. Evelyn Jacob NOW REPORT The company had just wrapped up a triumphant week of children’s performances at Gran- ville Island following a successful month-long national tour. Whether she and her dancers will ever experience that kind of tour again has now been thrown into doubt. The latest round of Canada Council cuts, announced March 12 and seen as the most vicious to date, has sent not only Marcuse but dozens of Canadian arts groups scrambling to make ends meet, Many are being forced to drop new ideas ‘and cancel upcoming tours. For her part, Marcuse has had to embark on an emergency fundraising campaign. “We've had trouble raising FOR JUDITH Marcuse (left) and her 15-member modern dance company (shown performing Mar- money from the corporate sector, and if we don’t raise funds from individuals | don't want to think what will happen,” said a shaken Marcuse. (Anyone wishing to donate tu the emergency fund can call 872- 4746.) The sweeping cuts to culture have meant the end of the coun- cil’s modern dance guest-teacher program, writers in residence pro- gram, the National Book: Festival and grants for new compositions in opera and music theatre along with its composer-in-residence programs. The news came as an enormous blow to groups right across the country, many of whom will be left with significantly less money for touring and training efforts. North Vancouver's Robert Hallam, general director of the Vancouver Opera, says the cuis will mean the end of new opera works, This year for the first time, the VOA commissioned two. new operas by Vancouver composers, and Hallam had planned to com- mission more. “We haven't backed off of our commitment to the new works, but they (the cuts) will make it more difficult. “And any additional commis- sions we had been thinking about are being dropped for now. It’s a real shame that kind of activity will have to be curtailed.” For Marcuse, whose !5-member modern dance company has withstood cuts to its budget for the past five years, the reductions come as yet another disappoint- ment. Dwindling grants have forced the company to drastically shorten its seasons: five years ago, for ex- ample, il enjoyed a 40-week season; this season is little more than 20 weeks long. And with no additional help from the B.C. government, Mar- cuse says she doesn’t even want to think what will happen next year. “What these cuts mean is that Photos David Coopet cuse’s Tales from the Vaudevilie Stage) the reductions come as yet another disappointment. at the Vancouver Travel show, Western Canada ; show and a repeat of last October' s smash- hit success. Talk to experts on spring, summer and fall vacations, Find out more ‘about biggest consumer travel travelling smart in Canada, the U.S., the Orient, Down Under, Europe, cruises. See the show-stopping Packing Magic! And much more. A fortune in prizes including tickets to faraway places including - Australia, Europe, Hawaii, two in the California wine country. Mexico, and a deluxe biking trip for --S Watch this paper for more details on the show and entry form for grand prize! 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