26 replies to this topic

[aurora]

Amy Reusch, on 06 January 2013 - 06:24 PM, said:

Franklin! Franklin!

hear hear!!! and he is a "time is of the essence" one!

[sandik]

Oh, what fabulous video excerpts!  I saw the Morris company in Grand Duo earlier this year -- it's a treat to see the finale in the Baryshnikov tribute.  But it was the collection of tap dancers in the Sammy Davis, Jr tribute that made me cry.  What an incredible collection of talent.

[Mme. Hermine]

i wish there were more of these on line but i haven't been able to find any others yet.

[Natalia]

I should know the answer to this...so excuse me for asking:

Is Violette Verdy a U.S. citizen now? Of course, she made her mark as an NYCB ballerina. On that alone, and her teaching career on our shores, I'd give her a KC Honor! [Online articles, including Wikiedia, still describe her as a 'French ballerina'; she received France's Legion of Honor a couple of years ago.]

If non-US citizens who've become famous with US companies would quality for the KC Honors, then my vote goes to Alicia Alonso, a superstar of ABT for a long-long time before the Cuban Revolution took her permanently to Havana, but we know that that award 'ain't gonna happen'!

[California]

Natalia, on 07 January 2013 - 10:09 AM, said:

I should know the answer to this...so excuse me for asking:

Is Violette Verdy a U.S. citizen now? Of course, she made her mark as an NYCB ballerina. On that alone, and her teaching career on our shores, I'd give her a KC Honor! [Online articles, including Wikiedia, still describe her as a 'French ballerina'; she received France's Legion of Honor a couple of years ago.]

If non-US citizens who've become famous with US companies would quality for the KC Honors, then my vote goes to Alicia Alonso, a superstar of ABT for a long-long time before the Cuban Revolution took her permanently to Havana, but we know that that award 'ain't gonna happen'!

I don't know if American citizenship is a requirement. In the press announcement for the most recent awards, it talks of contributions to American culture, but it never comes right out and says this is an award to Americans:
http://www.kennedy-c...levents/honors/

In practice, it might be that the selection committee prefers American citizens, and I don't see anyone on the list who is obviously not an American citizen. Does anybody know?

[cubanmiamiboy]

Natalia, on 07 January 2013 - 10:09 AM, said:

If non-US citizens who've become famous with US companies would quality for the KC Honors, then my vote goes to Alicia Alonso, a superstar of ABT for a long-long time before the Cuban Revolution took her permanently to Havana, but we know that that award 'ain't gonna happen'!

Oh Natasha...Alonso has had her own award in people's minds for her 20 years career in NYC.  Then, I would be curious about the citizenship.  Her only daughter Laura was born in US, and besides the fact that the citizenship can be passed automatically from children to parents, I would be doubtful that Alicia didn't take her own having thought of living permanently in US-(which she did, as I said, for 20 years)-, only going back to Cuba to perform at occasions.  The fact that she went back was very circumstantial, due to the revolution and the invitation done by Castro to give her green light for ballet development and her own theater.

I will never forget that American aging lady seating next to me at the MET with tears in her eyes during her 90th birthday gala who told me "Last time I saw her dancing it was here in NYC in 1959", which to I said, "And last time i did was in Havana in 1991".  The gap of generations in between the two of us, and the fact that we were still able to share a common ground was weird, but beautiful.

[cubanmiamiboy]

The list is sort of short...why is Kirkland skipped...?

[Natalia]

Sir Paul McCartney received a KC Honor recently. I'm not sure if he is dual citizen (UK and USA).

Well, if the gates are wide open and non-US citizens can earn the KC Honor then Alicia Alonso gets my vote, even if I know that it would be considered politically incorrect by many.

Cubanmiamiboy - ITA with you. Alonso is a Queen of American Ballet - KC Honor or not.

Kirkland? Maybe due to substance-abuse problems being so out in the open and/or her career being cut short at its height. Of course, she is still writing her 'story' with her academy. It's not where you start - it's where you finish.

Bujones would have definitely been in the running for a KC Honor had his life not been cut short.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Edited: Answer given earlier already by Natasha...

[Natalia]

See the post above, Cristian. Our posts seem to have been switched but I tried to answer.

[lmspear]

The only requirement that I recall reading about over the years is that the recipients must be present at the awards.  In the early years there was a lot of discussion and horror over Irving Berlin, who was homebound by that point, not being eligible.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Natalia, on 07 January 2013 - 10:59 AM, said:

See the post above, Cristian. Our posts seem to have been switched but I tried to answer.

My bad...I edited the double question already, Natasha.  I was curious about Kirkland because for some she is the greatest American born ballerina.