12 replies to this topic

[Amy Reusch]

AP's Obituary for Basil Thompson (in the NY Times, page down)

Quote

Thompson, trained by the Sadlers Wells Ballet School in London, was a former soloist with the American Ballet Theatre in New York and former artistic director of the Milwaukee Ballet.

He also was a former master of the Chicago-based Joffrey Ballet, and only recently had reconstructed ``Petrouchka'' for the Joffrey's Nureyev Tribute.

Thompson began his performance career with the Covent Garden Opera Ballet. In 1955, he transferred to the Sadlers Wells Ballet Co., now the Royal Ballet. He joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1960. In 1967, he joined the Joffrey as ballet master, working closely with Robert Joffrey at a time when the company was at its creative peak.

Beats me why this wasn't linked in the Dance Section of the NY Times Arts, but it wasn't.

I'm hoping people will add some personal memories of Basil Thompson here.  [I'm sure Major Mel must have known him.]  I had the pleasure of studying with him at NJ Ballet in perhaps 1980... must have been just after he left the Joffrey?  First we had his ex-wife, Alaine Haubert... whom isn't mentioned in the obituary... but I believe they had a child together?  Then she headed out to teach at a university in Hawaii (later returning to become ballet mistress for ABT... though I don't believe she's there now...) and Charthel Arthur took over her classes... then she headed out to Grand Rapids and Basil Thompson took over... we had a regular conduit to Joffrey talent in those days!  It's been a long while, but I still remember a correction or two of his... about arabesques mostly... he was always getting after us not to resemble railroad crossing signs, if I remember ;).  In some ways his style reminded me of Patrelli's.    Years later, I ran into him again when I was shooting for Ballet Chicago and he set a charming "Coppelia" on them.  It was one of the last things they did as a company... Meredith Benson was wonderful in it, although she had already performed the ballet as set by Frederic Franklin on ?Cincinatti? Ballet (or was it Cleveland?).

For some reason, the word "droll" comes to mind when I think of Basil.

[Amy Reusch]

I don't know why, but the NY Times' AP article is shorter than the one on Yahoo.
Here's the link for that
Ballet Master Basil Thompson Dies

Quote

"Basil brought joy, vigor and dedication to his work as a ballet master, teacher and coach," Gerald Arpino, founder and artistic director of the Joffrey, said Tuesday. "He knew the art of ballet thoroughly and lovingly shared it with all of us."

Alan Sener, chairman of the University of Iowa dance department, said he had last seen Thompson at a performance of "Petrouchka" last week.

"I sat one row behind his family, where I watched him dance all the parts from his seat," Sener said.

He said the university had lost a tremendous asset in Thompson.

"He provided a very valuable bridge between the professional field and academe. He was loved by the students and he provided an exuberance, a sense of vitality and a love of life, which he brought to both his teaching and his work on stage," Sener said.

[Mel Johnson]

I first met Basil when he was a teacher on the staff of the Joffrey School in 1966.  He was a strict teacher with high standards, and very able to convey technical information to students in a highly efficient manner.  I was not at all surprised when Mr. Joffrey selected him to be the company's ballet master.  While with the company, I found Basil a boon companion, and a right merry fellow, but who commanded the respect of the company in class and rehearsal.   He was married to Alaine Haubert at the time, and they had a son, Edward; I may have been the only one in the company who called him "Eddie" and we used to make paper airplanes of new and original designs to fly during the breaks in rehearsal.  Once, in Denver, when we had a delay in a connecting flight, we played Pong together for about two hours, alleviating boredom and anxiety for both of us.  Basil was witty and clever, and demanding, yet reasonable.  We need more like him these days, but I'm afraid that they don't make them like that anymore.

[Alexandra]

Welcome, Mrs. T.  I'm sorry you found us on such a sad occasion. Please accept our condolences on your loss.  And if you'd like to come back in the future, you're aways welcome.  I hope some of our posters will contact you.

[grace]

it's very touching that this site has enabled people who otherwise would not have been in touch, to BE in touch, in this context.

something (more!) for you to be pleased about and proud of, alexandra.

[Amy Reusch]

www.basilthompson.net
(just to make it easier)

[grace]

thanks amy, for the link to this site. i did not know anything of basil thompson, but i enjoyed looking at the site, and i particularly appreciate these bon mots:

Quote

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

Postage stamp dancing.

Looks like you're ready for the morgue!

My dead grandmother could do it with more energy.

If I can do it at my age...

I can't do it for you.

If you pretend to work, I'll pretend to pay you.

[Alexandra]

They're great!  Thanks for copying them here, grace.  (and thanks for the kind words)

[sandik]

grace, on Nov 21 2004, 11:06 PM, said:

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

True for dancers and airplane pilots.