Sad News For The Ballet World- Page 5

[Glebb]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 9:57am

Ann Barzel passed away yesterday at 101 years of age.
She was an avid collector and a great story teller.
Once while giving me a private tour of her collection at the Newberry Library, she asked if I would like to see Pavlova's pointe shoe and pulled it right off the shelf.

The following is my favorite part of her obituary by Sid Smith in today's Chicago Tribune.

(Petite and soft-spoken, Miss Barzel had an impish wit. Sometimes disdainful of modern dance, Miss Barzel, when passing a section of Twyla Tharp memorabilia in her collection a few years ago, quietly grumbled, "Twyla Twerp.")

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:05am

Pavlova's pointe shoe! Did you kiss it?

The curator of the Theater Collection at the Princeton University library once took our a box of Katherine Cornell's effects and showed me Miss Cornell's (rather ample) brassiere.

I, of course, held it up to my chest and looked for a mirror.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:51am

That's a wonderful quip in the obituary.

My condolences, Glebby. How fortunate that you had the chance to know her.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 9:18pm

"Mrs. D" is now gone. Her obit is in today's NY Times obituaries. I'm sure more articles will follow soon.

From a 2004 Dance Magazine article:
"School director Edith D'Addario, or "Mrs. D." as she is affectionately known, joined the staff in 1961 when she visited the studios looking for a new ballet teacher for her daughter.

Author Sasha Anawalt describes D'Addario in the Joffrey Ballet: Robert Joffrey and the Making of an American Dance Company (University of Chicago Press; 1996). "As Joffrey's fierce but benevolent watchdog, she also sometimes made donations to rescue him and the school from financial trouble. Her generosity extended to Joffrey's students: She contributed toward the electricity bills of many teenage scholarship students and often steered them patiently through the terrors of living in New York."

A one of a kind great lady.
I'll miss you Mrs. D.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 9:29pm

Eleanor D'Antuono, Mrs. D, Gayle D' Addario

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 10:10pm

She looks like she had a lot of GREAT stories to tell. Sounds like she lived a wonderful life.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/9/07 at 4:32pm

I'm so sorry to hear that Mrs. D has gone, Glebby. I know how much you respected her. Good thoughts to her family, and to you.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/9/07 at 6:51pm

Thanks Cookie. I loved going in early to sit in the office and chat with her before class. She really took care of Mr. Joffrey and yes PalJoey, she had some great stories. I heard stories about her chutzpa long before I ever met her. I wish I could find a picture of the young Edith D'Addario. I think she was a dead ringer for Gwen Verdon.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 9:15pm

Stanley Holden, star of The Royal Ballet died at 79 years of age.
He created the role of the "Widow Simone" in Ashton's legendary "La Fille Mal Gardee" - I had the privilege of performing Alain to his Simone with Joffrey in the 80s. He taught ballet in the US for over thirty years. I remember seeing Juliet Prowse at his LA studio.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:35am

What a thrill it must have been to dance with someone as gifted as he was. May he rest in peace, Glebby.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:38am

He was a heartthrob in his young years.
He married Brian Keith's ex wife and raised their daughter.

Updated On: 5/15/07 at 11:38 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:44am

I'd like to hear more about Juliet Prowse...although maybe in another thread that's not so sad.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:53am

You'll enjoy this PalJoey.
She did not take the early morning - professional class.
She was always in the doorway watching the Joffrey dancers while she readied herself for the 11:30am class.
From seeing her work I'm sure she could have danced at our level. She probably just wanted to sleep in!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:55am

we all need our beauty sleep!

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:57am

LOL - Cookie!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:05pm

Okay a little break from the sad ballet news.
GISELE MacKENZIE: Dance with Me Henry 1955

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:55pm

Loved that! Thanks PalJoey.