5 replies to this topic

[jsmu]

The NYT posted her obituary today. Terribly sad news--
as Dunning said in the NYT, Turney had ' a gift for stillness'...among legions of other gifts....
She was a dancer of such grace, quality, and refinement that her formidable physical
abilities were almost invisible, completely sublimated to the expression of the artwork.
Irreplaceable.

[papeetepatrick]

jsmu, on Dec 31 2009, 12:35 PM, said:

The NYT posted her obituary today. Terribly sad news--
as Dunning said in the NYT, Turney had ' a gift for stillness'...among legions of other gifts....
She was a dancer of such grace, quality, and refinement that her formidable physical
abilities were almost invisible, completely sublimated to the expression of the artwork.
Irreplaceable.

'Irreplacesable' is so true.  This is the first I read of it, jsmu, I remember you're a huge fan too.  She is hard to let go of, even for those of us who never got to see her in person it was lovely to think of her.  Of course, it will still be, but indeed sad news.

[dirac]

Thank you for posting, jsmu. Here is a link to the obit.

Quote

In New York, Ms. Turney studied at the New Dance Group and joined Ms. Hinkson at the Graham school. She and Ms. Hinkson soon joined the Graham company, the first members of a newly revitalized young troupe and the company’s earliest black dancers. Their first performance was in Graham’s “Canticle for Innocent Comedians.”

Ms. Turney also performed briefly with other choreographers, among them Pearl Primus, Donald McKayle, Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor and was a dancer in the 1961 musical “Milk and Honey.” Before college, she had been invited to join Katherine Dunham’s company, but her parents would not let her.

[LiLing]

Jennifer Dunning's beautiful description of Matt Turney's qualities as a dancer on stage describe her off stage persona as well.  "Serene... quiet eloquence.... a luminous still center in the dramatically charged Graham company."

She was indeed beautiful, as a dancer, and as a person.  RIP

[Marga]

I didn't know she was married to Bob Teague, a prominent TV news reporter when I was young. He was a calm, steady, confident presence, too.
May she rest in peace.

[sandik]

Oh dear.

Thanks for the link.