12 replies to this topic

[gottadance07]

I was watching the TV Guide Channel a few minutes ago, and they had a little "tidbit" at the top of the screen about Richard Thomas and his new movie that will be on tv on Friday. They said that he had classically trained parents who at one time owned New York City Ballet. I had never heard of these people, and was wondering if anyone could fill me in. Thanks!

[glebb]

I'm almost certain they didn't own NYCB.  I do know that they were reportedly very good dancers and teachers.  

I did take a class given by Richard Thomas (the father),when I was eleven years old.

[Mel Johnson]

Not exactly owned NYCB.  When SAB moved to Lincoln Center, Richard Thomas (the father) and his wife Barbara Fallis, took over the old Broadway SAB studios above the old Schrafft's!

[liebs]

They were both marvelous teachers and it was a lovely studio (now the second floor of a Barnes & Noble).  Thomas and Fallis gave Sean Lavery his early training.

[Manhattnik]

They called their school the New York School of Ballet.

Every time I see that Barnes and Noble I feel so sad. Although I don't miss the chows traipsing through the studios.

[atm711]

I saw Barbara Fallis many times with Ballet Theater.  I particularly liked her 'waltz' variation in 'Sylphides'.  She also danced in 'Pas de Quatre' and 'Apollo.   Richard Thomas (pere) was also a member of the Company at that time, and I remember he had a beautiful classical line.

[Alexandra]

There was a dancing daughter, too, wasn't there?  Bronwen? I remember reading about her -- very talented, but very short.  Does anyone remember her?

[Ari]

I remember her, Alexandra, although I never saw her dance.  She got quite a lot of publicity at one time.  Her parents staged Giselle for her, but I never heard anything of her after that.  Does anyone know if she joined a company and what became of her?

[Kyriakoula]

Bronwyn danced with Eliot Feld's company.  She also was on the TV version of Fame.  Yes she was small and looked a lot llike her mother as richard, jr. is the spitting image of his father.

[gottadance07]

Thanks for the info everyone! I didn't *think* I had ever heard of any Thomas's owning NYCB, so I knew I'd find the answer! Thanks again

[Manhattnik]

Bronwyn was a very strong dancer, although a bit on the short side. I remember a high point of her career must have been when she performed the lead in Daniel Levans' Concert Waltzes with ABT as a guest at the Met, in the late Seventies, I think.

[treschic53]

I remember Bronwyn--took class with her every day for several years.   I think that she took the bronze medal at the first Jackson competetion. Her parents were wonderful teachers. They moved the Thomas -Fallis school from the west 50's to the old SAB 2291 Bway location and later changed the name to New York School of Dance.  I saw her once on TV-might have been Merv Griffin. Her brother (Richard Thomas Jr.) was doing an interview and Bronwyn danced to a ragtime piano roll.

[carbro]

Among other things, I saw Bronwyn dance Giselle in her parents' staging, with her brother, Richard, as Hilarion   .  As dancers go, Bronwyn was short and compact (think Nichol Hlinka).  She did a very commendable student Giselle, but Richard would have been better advised to stick to the verbal arts.

Around that same time, I encountered the whole Thomas family, plus Daniel Levins, on the #104 bus going down Broadway one night.  The other passengers were whispering about "John Boy," but  my interest focused in the dancing contingent.