Portland Ballet Company Breaks with Staffer, Sets Up Email Auto-Reply Apologizing for "Unprofessional Interaction"

"It has been brought to our attention recently that she was not acting in the best interests of students, parents, faculty, staff or donors."

Moxie Company dancer Savannah Quinn with artistic director Gina Candland.

A feud between Moxie Contemporary Ballet, the parents of some dance students and former Director of Development Corinne Patel is spilling into the public thanks to an email auto-response. 

Patel resigned her position with the nontraditional contemporary ballet company earlier this month after the company canceled a series of summer classes without promptly refunding students their $2,100 tuition. She says she resigned after Moxie management didn't communicate with her or students about the cancellations or how refunds would be given. 

According to KOIN, teachers, parents and students arrived at the studio to find locked doors, and phone numbers posted on the studio's door were disconnected. 

After Patel resigned, Moxie responded by setting up an auto-reply on Patel's company email which read, in part:

 

Patel declined to elaborate beyond saying she plans to sue her former employer. 

For now, Moxie is staying quiet, and urging Patel to do the same: 

“Due to the legal nature of this matter, MCB cannot comment any further, at this time, on the inner workings of such actions. Further, Ms. Patel’s contract with MCB prohibits any communication, and the distribution of any information (including but not limited to email, phone, address, privileged business information etc) regarding The School at Moxie Contemporary Ballet, Moxie Contemporary Ballet, its staff, directors, students, parents, sponsors, donors, and media contacts indefinitely and forever.”

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