A ballet master from the Royal New Zealand Ballet has been sacked for inappropriate behavior in the studio and on tour, with a current member claiming to have made numerous comments about dancers’ weight.

Michael Auer has trained dancers and is also the husband of national company artistic director Patricia Barker, which past and present members say has made it difficult to speak up.

A leaked email signed by executive director Lester McGrath shows the council terminated his contract immediately and he is not allowed on RNZB premises or events.

“I am saddened and concerned to learn that inappropriate behavior has occurred after we have worked hard to improve our organizational culture over the past few years,” McGrath said in the email.

The company confirmed that complaints were filed against him between February and April this year and that he was fired this month.

A member of the company, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Auer’s comments were “rather directed towards women”.

“There were a lot of comments about the weight. Any noticeable change, especially the weight loss, was welcomed,” they said.

They said he made upsetting comments.

“There was always like a.. ‘you’re terrible’, that kind of thing,” they said.

The Austrian ballet master has held various positions with the company – including as a volunteer – since Barker started at the ballet company in 2017.

Her arrival was followed by an exodus of disgruntled dancers and she was accused of nepotism for bringing her husband on board.

One member said the relationship made it difficult for staff to speak up.

A former member said it was hard to trust Auer.

“Everything and anything would come back to him,” they said.

The RNZB receives over $5 million a year from taxpayers.

He declined 1News’ interview request.

In a statement, the board thanked those who came forward and said allegations of inappropriate behavior were taken seriously.

“We want the RNZB culture to be inclusive,” McGrath said.

Board chair Kerry Prendergast said she still has faith in Barker and the management.

A National Company ballerina in the 1970s, Dawn Sanders knows pressure dancers across the industry deal with their weight.

She taught dance anatomy for 40 years and said early menopause is a risk for underweight dancers.

Sanders explained that dancers who miss their periods can get stress fractures very easily, and in some cases their fertility can be affected.

She said attitudes about weight vary across companies and around the world, but they “still have room for improvement.”

The leaked email shows that the company is currently reviewing its health support for dancers and that bullying prevention training is being implemented.

McGrath said RNZB “takes the welfare of its dancers very seriously”.

A current member said he was hopeful for the company’s future. saying, “It feels like it’s going to be a positive change.”

1News asked Auer and Barker for answers, neither of which responded.