The legendary National Academic Folk Dance Troupe Joc is now on the brink of disaster. The deficient management of a politically appointed director, the irrational management of financial resources, inappropriate working conditions, and the lack of concerts and tournaments, led to the troupe’s degradation with dancers leaving continuously. Under the management of Vladimir Curbet, artistic director of the troupe for 59 years, it used to number more than 60 dancers. Today only about eight remained, and the troupe is completed with students or graduates of the National Choreography College. In the old days, the troupe Joc used to give more than 100 concerts at home and abroad. However, in the last three years, it has given no more than 30 concerts in Moldova and only a few abroad.

ZdG takes a closer look at the activity of the legendary National Academic Folk Dance Troupe Joc. 

The authorities ignored the requests of the National Academic Folk Dance Troupe Joc for three years, while the artists kept leaving due to the miserable salary and inhumane working conditions. 

However, with the arrival of the new general director in 2017 allowances boosted. In the last years, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, about 116,000 euros (2.2 million lei) have been allocated from the state budget for repairs, concerts and costumes. 

At the same time, today, only for salaries the Ministry of Education allocates around 43,000 euros (824,000 lei) a month from public money. Although the amounts are huge, the performance of the institution has not improved for the number of concerts is small, and the artists continue to leave the troupe. 

The beginning of the end

Founded in 1945, the National Folk Dance Troupe Joc became, over the years, the most famous academic dance group in Moldova. Over 90 artists, dancers and musicians, trained at specialized institutions, have brought the fame of Moldova to the world. 

In its 74 years of existence, the troupe has created over 80 dances and has given over 7,800 concerts to over 18 million spectators. Since 1957, for 59 years, under the management of the artistic director Vladimir Curbet, Joc has had concerts in over 60 countries, obtaining hundreds of awards and diplomas. The group holds the title of Meritorious troupe of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova (SSRM) and was decorated with Moldova’s highest order, Order of the Republic.

The years 2003-2009 were successful for the famous troupe. According to the dancers, it was a fruitful period because it had sufficient financial resources. Paradoxically, as the communists left the government, things began to change, and less and less money started to be allocated to support the troupe. 

The artists affirm that in the first three months after the change of government, their salary was cut almost in half, from around 200 euros (4,000) to around 145 euros (2,800 lei). Thus, until 2012, they only worked because there were artists who believed that things would change for the better. After 2012 the dancers’ enthusiasm faded and, as many artists decided to leave, the fame of Joc started to fade away too.

In 2013 Joc started to have bigger problems, as Vladimir Curbet’s health condition aggravated, and he could no longer manage the troupe and keep things under control. Thus, a Board of Directors of the troupe, which included officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Education and a representative of the troupe, takes over the financial management of the state-owned enterprise. 

According to some documents obtained by ZdG, in 2016, for example, a period when the artists’ salary was about 156 euros (3,000 lei) and more and more dancers were leaving, driven by poor financial motivation, the members of the Board of Directors increased their salary from around 52 euros (1,000) to around 625 euros (12,000 lei).

Given that Vladimir Curbet could no longer manage the group, the number of concerts decreased considerably. The rehearsals were occasional, and the artists kept leaving the troupe. 

In 2016, the group addressed a petition to the Ministry of Education, asking the title of Honorary Director for Vladimir Curbet and requesting the ministry’s support in resolving the problems of the troupe. Shortly after, the troupe was announced that Vladimir Curbet had signed the request for resignation, being named Honorary Director of the Joc Troupe. 

And in the autumn of 2016, the artists proposed the former dancer Vitalie Bujnița to the position of general director of the troupe, being supported by many of the artists. 

In the letter to the Ministry of Education, it was reasoned that Bujnița is an Honored Artist of Moldova, that he danced in Joc for eight years, is also the main soloist, and besides the artistic activity, he holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations. Respectively, in October 2016, Bujnita sent the letter to the then-Minister of Education, Monica Babuc, a member of the Democratic Party, and shortly, the minister received him for an interview.

The interview with the Minister of Education

“The minister briefly listened to my intentions and my visions on the revival of the troupe. She didn’t seem impressed and was skeptical of what I was saying. Listening to me for a few minutes, she spoke with a clear message, that she is very upset by the fact that the artists do not obey, that they are impertinent. Then, holding my letter and CV in her hands, she asked me: “Do you think this is the way to appoint general director to Joc? And she put the letter in a locker,” Vitalie Bujnița says.

After Bujnița’s candidacy was rejected, the artists started to sound the alarm at other institutions, such as the Presidency, hoping that they would be heard and supported. 

On February 24, 2017, President Igor Dodon paid a visit to Joc, during which he told the artists that he took them under his protection, and promised investments. 

The artists say that, over a period, some economic agents who wanted to remain anonymous, sent them around 10,400 euros (200,000 lei). According to the artists, the next day, Monica Babuc paid her first visit as Minister of Education to the national folk dance troupe and introduced Aliona Strîmbeanu, the new general manager of the troupe.

“The next day the plague came upon us. Monica Babuc, having been minister from 2013, in 2017, finally came for the first time to Joc,” the dancer Grigore Moraru points out.

Director at Joc affiliated to the Democratic Party

The Folk Dance Troupe Joc is a state-owned enterprise whose founder and investor is the Ministry of Education, the latter exercising its managerial rights through the Board of Directors and the general director. Both the President of the Board and the general director are appointed by the Ministry of Education.

ZdG asked the Ministry of Education about the National Folk Dance Troupe Joc and the Ministry claimed that Aliona Strîmbeanu, the current general director of the troupe, was appointed to the position of president of the Board of Directors in 2016. And on July 4, 2017, without any competition, Monica Babuc promoted her to the position of general director. 

Aliona Strîmbeanu is a theater critic by profession. She says that for 26 years, since 1991, she has worked in the Ministry of Education. 

According to the declaration of assets and personal interests, in 2017, for her activity within the Ministry of Education as president of the Board of Directors of the Joc Troupe and for her activity at the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, Strîmbeanu raised a monthly salary of around 1,000 euros (20,000 lei), as well as allowances of around 156 euros (3,000 lei). 

Also, Strîmbeanu states that, from 2017, when she was appointed general director, she drives a Nissan X-trail car, manufactured in 2005, which, according to her, costs around 2,900 euros (55,000 lei), while the average market price of such a car amounts to almost 5,210 euros. 

Aliona Strîmbeanu has managed the Joc troupe for the last three years. She is criticized by both former artists of the troupe and the Curbet family. 

“She was appointed general director, not artistic director, but she assumed this position too and began to establish her own rules, more driven by personal interest. She says that she revives Joc, but it is only her opinion; the veterans of Joc think that she has made a mess of things,” Viorica Curbet, the daughter of the late Vladimir Curbet says. 

Grigore Paladi, the former artistic director of the troupe, states that the group received Strîmbeanu with aloofness, as she was perceived as a system person, who would work for the system, not for the good of the troupe.

A former dancer in Joc, Andrei Moșanu said that before Strâmbeanu came to Joc as director appointed by Minister Babuc and affiliated to the Democratic Party, there was no money to invest neither in the premises nor in artists or the troupe. 

Moșanu believes that as soon as she came, the government found the funds merely to attribute the merits to her, the minister, the government, and the regime.

Aside from Strîmbeanu’s political affiliation, the former employees also mention that she was a Democratic Party councilor in the village of Geamăna, Anenii Noi. For example, before February 24, 2019, parliamentary elections several posts about the activity of the Democratic Government appeared on her Facebook page, as well as thank you messages to the Filip Government and to Minister Babuc.

“I don’t see this as favoring the Democratic Party. There were some things I considered good. It doesn’t seem right to me when someone does a good thing and you aren’t supporting it and you don’t accept it. I have to admit that repairs were made to the Joc premises with the support of the Government, which, at the time, was the Democratic Party, the then Prime Minister Pavel Filip, and the then Minister of Education Monica Babuc,” Strîmbeanu says.

Contacted by ZdG, the then Minister of Education, Monica Babuc did not answer the phone, to tell us about the situation in the Joc troupe. 

Around 115,000 euros (2.2 million lei) from the state budget

The investments for the Joc troupe increased with the arrival of Aliona Strîmbeanu, admitting that the funds are conditioned by her coming into office. 

Before her arrival, Joc’s requests were ignored by the Ministry of Education; as soon as she was appointed to office, the financial investments increased year by year. 

In its response to ZdG the Ministry of Education showed that in 2016 and 2017, the ministry allocated around 10,420 euros (200,000 lei) and around 12,300 euros (237,000 lei) respectively, while in 2018, over 86,400 euros (1.66 million lei), from the state budget. 

At the beginning of 2019, the Ministry allocated around 15,000 euros (289,000 lei). 

Most of the public money allocated in 2018 was spent on repair works of the building in which Joc activates. The same company executed the roof and floor repairs, with the contracts’ value reaching around 74,000 euros (1.42 million lei).

Every year, Joc participates in the International Music Festival Mărțișor. Thus, according to the Ministry of Education, around 5,200 euros (100,000 lei) were allocated for the troupe performance at this festival in 2017, in 2018 – around 7,900 euros (152,000 lei), while in 2019 the amount almost tripled, and around 15,000 euros (289,000 lei) came from the state budget. 

However, in a reply to ZdG, Aliona Strîmbeanu wrote that only around 8,400 euros (161,000 lei) were paid for Mărțișor 2019.

The difference between the salary on an artist and that of the director

Although the current managers of the Joc troupe boast about the rebirth of the troupe, the artists keep leaving it because of low salaries. 

According to the choreographic organization chart, the troupe Joc must consist of 32 pairs of dancers. The ZdG sources from the Joc troupe say that there are about 20 pairs today, more than half of them are graduates of the National College of Choreography. 

People claim that until recently the active artists in the troupe had at least danced for eight years. Today there remained only those who have three or four years’ experience, and even they also leave and are replaced by young graduates from the college. The sources report that, experienced artists, who have quit the troupe, are hired for the most important concerts, and they are remunerated per performance.

According to Natalia Popovici, the Joc troupe chief accountant, at Mărțișor 2019 Festival, for example, 23 dancers were invited, all former dancers and students of the National Choreography College, who were paid to participate in the event.

Grigore Zosim is 18 years old and a graduate of the National College of Choreography and he dances for Joc for two years. He says that his salary is around 156-208 euros (3,000– 4,000 lei). 

“It’s an average salary for me, but for a family man, it’s too little. Currently, there are very few artists in the base body of the troupe, because they are not properly paid,” the dancer says.

Cătălin Agachi has been dancing for Joc from September 2018, although he is officially hired since March 2019. Until recently, he was paid with around 130 euros (2,500 lei) a month. 

“Now, I am in the staff at 75 percent around 130 euros (2,500 lei), but we have been told that a salary increase will follow. Thus, with a solo number, seniority and so on, my salary could amount to around 208-234 euros (4,000-4,500 lei),” the dancer says.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Education, Vasile Goia, the leader of the troupe’s orchestra, and Eugen Sandul, the ballet-master, each received around 411 euros (7,900 lei) at Joc. 

In a response provided by Aliona Strîmbeanu it is said that Goia has an additional source of income, and he received almost 3,700 euros (70,000 lei) for modifying, adapting and developing 11 musical pieces in a new format.

However, when asked how much he got for adapting the pieces Goia said he was paid modestly, with a symbolic sum. 

“There are many musical pieces for which I didn’t even ask to be paid, because you must have a bag of money to pay me,” Goia said.

Because the musical arrangement changes, Eugen Sandul has to change the choreographic composition, for which he is also paid extra. 

“As he changed the musical arrangement, I had to change and add movements to the choreography. I received a symbolic amount, of around 52- 104 euros (1000-2000 lei), although it costs much more,” Sandul said.

Phantom wages at Joc

The Joc troupe receives monthly subventions amounting to around 43,000 euros (824,000 lei). According to the Ministry of Education, the monthly gross salary of the artists varies between around 208-312 euros (4,000 and 6,000 lei), depending on the salary category.

ZdG got hold of a payroll of the Joc troupe for 2019, showing the monthly salary of each employee of the troupe, according to the position held. 

The scheme shows 54 job positions and salaries indicated next to each, with a total amount of around 12,500 euros (240,000 lei) per month. 

The same situation can be found in the 2016 payroll, in which money was allocated for 20 positions. The chief accountant of the troupe, confirmed the authenticity of the document and explained that these are the vacancies.

“Those were the vacancies. The money allocated is spent only for the dancers who work, the rest of the money remains in the account of the troupe,” she explained.

Tamara Maznic, chief economist of the troupe, claims that the payroll for 2019 was reduced, and was approved for 135 people, of whom 105 are their employees.

“Every month some artists leave, others come. Regardless of whether they leave or remain, the amount stipulated in the payroll is paid,” Tamara Maznic said.

The so-called outstanding achievements of the general director 

At the same time, the salary of the general director is three times higher than that of an artist from the Joc troupe. In the declaration of assets and interests, Aliona Strîmbeanu indicates that, in 2018, as general director of Joc, she received around 8,500 euros (162,766 lei), the equivalent of around 706 euros (13,563 lei) per month.

At the same time, a November 2018 report of the Financial Inspection subordinated to the Ministry of Finance shows that Aliona Strîmbeanu received bonuses for work efficiency in the amount of 100 percent of salary increase. The Financial Inspection found that the general director received increases of 20 percent for work intensity and 30 percent for outstanding achievements, and, through the Ministry of Education order, she also received bonuses for high efficiency in the amount of 50 percent of the salary and supplement for efficiency in the amount of a basic salary plus seniority in work. 

Also, the document shows that in 2018 the general director also benefited from two material aids, while according to the legal norms, a manager can benefit from a material aid of up to a monthly basic salary. Thus, having no decision from the Ministry of Education, Aliona Strîmbeanu was granted unjustified bonuses for efficiency, the total sum of expenses amounting to around 2,000 euros (39,300 lei). 

At the same time, according to the Ministry of Education’s orders, she also received irregular bonuses from the collected revenues of the troupe in the amount of around 2,000 euros (37,500 lei).

“There was an accounting blunder. I mean, it’s not a mistake, that’s how the director’s salary has been calculated for years. It was the same during Mr. Curbet and now the financial inspection told me that it’s an abuse, that I am to return this money … I am committed to return the money and I will return it monthly,” Strîmbeanu explained.

On the other hand, the chief economist of the troupe claims that the bonuses were paid within the limits of the law. 

“This is calculated at any institution, in accordance with the staff that is approved by the ministry and outside the staff, as provided by law – a manager can receive bonuses from the savings of the enterprise. This is established by the order of the ministry for one year and is yearly renewed by order,” she says.

At the same time, the report of the Financial Inspection shows that, in 2015-2017, the sales revenue of the state institution registered a decline, decreasing from around 52,000 euros (1 million lei) in 2015 to around 12,600 euros (243,400 lei) in 2017. 

In contrast, subsidies from the state budget have increased. In 2015, the troupe received around 344,000 euros (6.6 million lei) from public money, whereas in 2017 it received around 370,000 euros (7.1 million lei).

The inspection also found that the expenses incurred by the troupe as funds allocated from the state subsidies reach more than 80 percent annually, which is in contravention with the legal provisions. In this context, for example, on September 30, 2018, the Joc troupe had already received subsidies from the budget amounting to 92 percent of the approved amount for a whole year.

Andrei Moșanu and Grigore Moraru, former dancers of the troupe, maintain that Joc could make money on its own if it were managed properly. The artists say that, now, the troupe needs sponsors and investments to reach at least the level it was, and then start performing.

“It’s a mockery that Joc troupe ended up in such a mess – and such a well-known troupe! Tickets couldn’t be sold even to concerts in Bucharest, where we share the same culture and traditions. 

We, here at Joc, try to come, we don’t want to leave it for good. I hoped until the last moment that there will be a change once and for all. We keep fit, we love our profession, after all, that’s why we learned, that’s why we grew up in ballrooms, from morning to evening – to dance on stage, not to work in restaurants and at different banquets, to destroy our health. 

It was the first obligation of the managers of the troupe to organize concerts,” Andrei Moșanu and Grigore Moraru say.

Photo Source: facebook.com

Daniela Calmîș,

Foto: Igor Ionescu,