ＮＢＡバレエ団はなぜＮＰＯ法人なのか 
日本バレエアカデミーバレエ団（以下ＮＢＡバレエ団）は２１世紀の初頭、わが国のバレエ団として初のＮＰＯ法人となりました。
ＮＰＯ法人とは特定非営利活動法人、つまり利益を目的としない、市民の公益活動の法人のことですが、ＮＢＡバレエ団はなぜＮＰＯ法人であるのかを此処ではっきりすることは必要であると考えられます。
また、ＮＢＡバレエ団を運営するにあたって会長以下ボランティアで公益の為に誠心誠意、働いているということを実現させている動機と情熱はいったい何であろうかということ、このこともこの際に明記しておきたいと思います。
まずバレエ界においても他のオペラなどの芸術分野と同じく、我が国ではバレエダンサーの社会的な地位と報酬が他の諸外国に比較して著しく低いということ。その改善のためにも創設されたといわれる新国立劇場とは規模は異なりますが民間レベルからその目的のために協働しているのがＮＢＡバレエ団です。
現状では我が国のバレエダンサーのレベルは諸外国に比較しても総合的に非常に高くプロであるにもかかわらず、報酬と社会的地位はアマチュアのままでありつづけています。この事態を少しでも改善し最高レベルの作品を発信しつつ、バレエダンサーの地位の向上と報酬を欧米並みにしようと民間レベルから立ち上がったのがＮＢＡバレエ団です。
さて更に詳しくこの問題「日本におけるバレエダンサーの報酬」のことを考えますと、問題の根底には日本のバレエ団が個人の教室を中心に茶道や華道のような家元制に類似して発展してきたという経緯があります、新国立も此の点で壁に突き当たっていると思われますが。国内では現時点ですでにバレエ教室は全国で飽和状態で、この伝統的な形式の枠内では報酬を受けるという意味でのプロのバレエダンサーは育たないところまできています。「バレエ界の常識は社会の非常識」と云われていますが、こう云われ続けることはバレエ界の恥でもあります。
一部の商業演劇団（たとえば劇団四季）の様にバレエダンサーにもせめて、舞台制作スタッフの「何分の一」位の報酬を払うことはできないのか？というような正常な疑問がバレエに長年携わるダンサーの中から発せられました、即ちこれがＮＢＡバレエ団の誕生の動機になったのですが、性急に我が国の全体のバレエ界のシステムを変えることは不可能なので、現日本のバレエ界を末端から構成しているバレエ教室に働きかけ、日本中にあるバレエ教室がサポートする全国規模のバレエ団ができないかと考えた結果、ＮＢＡバレエ団が誕生いたしました。
そして少しでもバレエダンサーが自立できるよう金銭的負担を少なくするために、レッスン費用の無料化、公演ギャランティーの応分の支払い、公演チケットの負担の廃止ないし減少などの実現を目指し。そして世界に誇れる作品の発信をできるようにするため、ＮＢＡバレエ団の全国の会員がバレエ団のスポンサーとなり、バレエ団を金銭的に支え、そして実際の運営は理事がボランティアで行うことで、現在ＮＢＡバレエ団の運営は可能となったのです。 しかしまだ端緒についたばかりであり、実際の運営はかなり厳しい自転車操業が続いています。けれども、我々のバレエ団にはバレエを愛しバレエダンサーを愛する熱意が充満しています。急速に発展を遂げている原動力は此処にあると思います。
法人化に関してよく聞かれることはＮＢＡバレエ団は財団法人や株式会社でも良かったのではないかということですが、前述したように我々は利益を目的としている団体ではありませんし収益を分配していません。一時的に収益はあったとしても繰越金として次の公演の経費で消えてなくなっております。芸術活動で利益を上げようとは思っていませんし、実際に利益は上がりません。そのようでありますので当団にとっては株式会社というのはふさわしくないということであります。また公益を目的としているという点では財団法人でも良いのですが、かといって財団設立に必要な１０億円の余裕のある設立資金もありません、このような状態で法人化を目指しつつも、該当する法人がなく困っていたときに、「ＮＰＯ法人」という制度がこの度、我が国にできたことを知り、よく調査した末にＮＰＯ法人になったというのがこの法人化の経緯であります。
しかし、とかくＮＰＯというと素人のアマチュア集団でレベルが低いというイメージがつきまとっていますが、ＮＢＡバレエ団においては事態は全く逆であると思います
。
社会通念上では、プロとアマの違いは、そのことに従事することから生計を立てている、すなわち報酬を得ていることをプロといい、アマとは趣味で、すなわち生計は別で立てていて、そのかたわら空いている時間があるときに無報酬で従事していることを指しています、ＮＰＯ法人とは、とかくそのようにとられています。「プロはレベルが高くアマは低い」と、しかし我々ＮＢＡバレエ団はＮＰＯ法人で報酬はアマですがレベルは最高のプロであると自負しています。
たとえば２０００年、当バレエ団の「秘蔵コレクション」が文化庁芸術祭優秀賞を受賞しておりますし、毎年、定期的に数回の公演を行い、それぞれ高く評価されております。
このことは特にはっきりとさせておきたいことです。
このＮＢＡバレエ団の理念に情熱とともに集まった１２名の理事たちは、それぞれがバレエの道を半世紀近くにも亘り究め、心底からバレエを愛する芸術家であり、今まで各々がそれぞれのバレエ団で重責を担う立場にいた者たちで構成されているのです。またそれぞれが共に既存のバレエ団を越えた長年の友人としての信頼関係の絆で結ばれております。
即ちバレエを愛し、またバレエ芸術の深化と創造を行い、我が国からの最高レベルの芸術作品の上演と発信などを行いつつ、バレエダンサーの地位向上を目指す団体であるからこそ、同じ志を持ち、同じような波動（バイブレーション）を発する者が集まり結成されたのであります。 又、このほかにも日本のバレエ界の現状を文化的アイデンティティー及びコラボレーションなどを通してよりよくするためにもＮＰＯになる必要があったということです、即ち政治、社会学者のドラッカーの言うように、舞踊環境の整備を、そして我々の使命である「社会への貢献」の為にはより専門的に何を何の為にいつ行うのか、そのためには何をやるべきではないのかを認識し、より組織的に行う際にもＮＰＯ法人が適していると思うのです。
またＮＢＡバレエ団がＮＰＯ法人になったことのもう一つの理由として、団体としての所有する財産の帰属を団体所有とはっきりと登記する必要があったので、この形態を選択したと言うことです。すなわちＮＢＡバレエ団には多くのドロップ（舞台で使用する背景画）や衣裳、装置、小道具、また倉庫や土地があり、これらの所有権を巡って将来、疑惑や紛争の起こらぬように法人所有登記する必要があったこと、並びに法人格でなければできない査証の申請や団体としての各種行政への申請、銀行口座の開設や諸々の登記などで、どうしても必要なことが数多くありこの法人を選択したということです。
一般的に言ってもこのような無報酬のボランティアを行うには、前提条件として従事する者は経済的な余裕と愛情が必要不可欠であります。ＮＢＡバレエ団の理事には永年バレエ界で活躍し一応の生活のゆとりと精神的な余裕、そして芸術のため、公益のために働くボランティア精神が必須であります。
ＮＰＯというような奉仕活動は従って米国など豊かな社会から発生してきたというのも、無報酬で社会奉仕に従事するだけの余裕のある者がこのＮＰＯの経営に参加できるということであると思います。もちろん、団員については将来的には経済面の保証を目指すことは当然です。民間レベルでこれだけのお金のかかる総合芸術であるバレエ公演を数多く提供し実現していくのは奇跡的ともいえると思います。
公共の機関からのスタジオの無償使用、バレエ団の道具などの保管場所の無償提供など今後は官民の一体の協力した体制でこの理念の実現に向けたいと思います。
皆様からの協力を切に懇願しております。
特定非営利活動法人 ＮＢＡバレエ団
理事長／芸術総監督 安達哲治
This Nihon Ballet Academy Ballet Company (shortening NBA Ballet Company) became the first NPO Corporation as a ballet team of our country at the beginning of the 21st century.
Although NPO corporation is a specific nonprofit activity corporation, i.e., the corporation of public-benefit activity of the citizen aiming at profits, it is thought required to clarify why a NBA Ballet Company is NPO corporation here.
Moreover, regarding the management of NBA Ballet Com0pany, all the members of the board of directors, in fact work very hard as volunteer for public benefit. So I want to specify here what motive and passion really made to carry out our activities.
Say first that it is remarkable and is low in our country in a ballet community as well as art fields, such as other opera, as compared with many foreign countries of others [ remuneration / social status and social remuneration / of a ballet dancer ]. As for New National Theater said were founded also for the improvement, it is a NBA Ballet Company that they have collaborated from the private sector level for the purpose although scales differ.
Even if the present condition compares the level of the ballet dancer of our country with many foreign countries, in spite of being a pro synthetic very highly, remuneration and a social status still continuing being amateur. Having improved this situation and sending the work of the highest level, the NBA Ballet Company rose from the private sector level the [ the European and American average ] to consider remuneration as the improvement in a ballet dancer's status.
Now, if this problem "the remuneration
of the ballet dancer in Japan" is considered still in detail, it will be
thought that the New National Theater with the
circumstances where the ballet team in Japan was similar to a house former
system like the Tea Ceremony or Japanese KADOU,
and has developed into the bottom of a problem centering on an individual
classroom has run against the wall at this point. Now
in
Isn’t it possible that the ballet dancers who have engaged in ballet so many years can be paid even only some percent of the amount for the sage staffs like a theatrical company, ‘GEKIDAN SHIKI’? Such a natural question arose to us, namely, this became the motive of birth of a NBA Ballet Company Since it was the impossible to change the system of the ballet community of whole our country hastily, it worked on the ballet classroom which constitutes the ballet community in present Japan from an end, and as a result of thinking whether the ballet team of the national scale which the ballet classroom all over Japan supports can do, the NBA Ballet Company was born.
And in order to lessen a money-burden so that a ballet dancer can become independent, realization of abolition of the burden of no-charge of lesson expense, the payment with an appropriate public performance guarantee, and a public performance ticket or reduction is aimed at. And in order to be able to perform dispatch of the work which it can be proud of in the world, the member of the whole country of a NBA Ballet Company becomes the sponsor of a ballet team, a ballet team is supported in money, it is the thing for which a director performs actual management as a volunteer, and management of the present NBA Ballet Company became possible. However, lessons have still been taken from the start just and the precarious day-to-day management with actual quite severe management continues. However, the zeal which loves ballet in our ballet team and loves a ballet dancer is full. I think that the driving force which has accomplished development quickly is here.
We are not this organization aiming at profits and often being heard about corporation has not distributed the profit, as it was mentioned above, although the NBA Ballet Company was whether neither a foundation nor incorporated company was sufficient. Temporarily, though it is profitable, as balance carried forward, at the cost of the following public performance, it disappears and it is lost. It does not think that profits will be raised by art activities, and profits do not actually increase. Since it is such, for this team, I understand that incorporated company is not suitable and there is. Moreover, it is although a foundation is sufficient at the point of aiming at public benefit. But when there is no corporation such a state where there is also no generous establishment capital of 1 billion yen required for foundation establishment corresponds, aiming at corporation-ization and it is troubled. It is the circumstances of this corporation-izing to have become NPO corporation at the end which knew that the system of "NPO corporation" was made to our country lately, and it was all after we fully investigated.
However, although the image that a level is low is hanging around in an amateur's amateur group if it is called NPO in many cases, in a NBA Ballet Company, I think that a situation is completely reverse.
It is generally called pro that it has made its living since the difference between a pro and an amateur is engaged in that, namely, it has obtained remuneration on a socially accepted idea, and it is taken such [ NPO corporation to which the amateur has pointed out being gratuitously engaged as a hobby, i.e., living, is another, in the meantime if they have some time they’ll work with non payment. In many cases. a "pro's level is high and an amateur is low" -- however, we the NBA Ballet Companies are self-confident as that a level is the highest pro although remuneration is an amateur in NPO corporation.
For example in 2000, the "treasuring collection" of this ballet team is awarded the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Art Festival prize for an excellent work, performs a public performance of several times periodically every year, and is esteemed respectively.
This is it that I especially want to emphasize here.
As for 12 board of directors in NBA Company gathered with passion in NBA’s idea, each continues and reaches to an extreme of the way of ballet for almost a half-century, and it is the artist who loves ballet from the bottom of their heart, and are the persons who were in the position in which each bears a heavy responsibility in each ballet team, and are constituted. Moreover, both each is connected with the bonds of the confidential relation as an old friend exceeding the existing ballet team.
That is, just since it was the organization who aims at the improvement in a status of a ballet dancer, having loved ballet, and having performed enhancement and creation of ballet art, and performing performance, dispatch, etc. of a work of art of the highest level from our country, it had the same mind, and the person who emits the same wave motion (vibration) gathers, and was formed. moreover -- in addition, I understand that it needed to be set to NPO in order to improve the present condition of the ballet community in Japan more through a cultural identity, collaboration, etc., and Drucker, politics and a sociologist, says -- as In case it recognizes maintenance of dancing environment, and what for that should not be done for what is performed when for what purpose more nearly specially for "a contribution to society" which is our mission and they are performed more systematically, I think that NPO corporation is suitable.
Moreover, since attribution of the property owned as an organization needed to be clearly entered with organization possession as another reason of the NBA Ballet Company having become NPO Corporation, it is saying that this form was chosen. Namely, the thing which needed to be done for corporation possession registration so that many ‘drops’ (background drawing used on the boards), clothes and equipment, stage properties, and warehouses and lands may be in a NBA Ballet Company and neither doubt nor dispute may happen over these ownership in the future, I understand that and it was impossible application of a visa, application to the various administration as an organization, establishment of a bank account, various registration, etc. when it was not juridical personality, and there are many required things and this corporation was surely chosen.
Even if it generally says, in order to perform such a gratuitous volunteer, the person engaged as a precondition has indispensable economical margin and economical love. The volunteer soul which plays an active part in the director of a NBA Ballet Company on a ballet community many years, and is committed for public benefit with the economical afford, a mental margin, and art is indispensable.
I think that I understand that the person it is possible to be engaged in social service can participate in this management of NPO, and service activities which are called NPO have him gratuitously because it followed and it has generated from the society with the affluent U.S. etc. Of course, naturally about a member, an economic guarantee is aimed at in the future. I think that it can be said that it is miraculous to offer many ballet public performances which are the composite art which the money of only this requires, and to realize on a private sector level.
I want to turn to realization of this idea in the organization with which government and people's one cooperated from now on [, such as gratis offer of storage places, such as gratis use of the studio from a public organization, and a tool of a ballet team, ].
It is entreating for the cooperation from you eagerly.
Specific Nonprofit Activity
Corporation NBA Ballet Company
Chairman