metdivo

Peter Genaro and Balestracci were kidding around in rehearsal when he mention that he would like to do a revue of Charlie Chaplin. A year later he called her and said that RCMH had agreed to do the revue and she was going to play Charlie. The whole show was revovled around Charlie. But of course the piece de resistance was when she came out for her curtain bow and took off the had and her beautiful long hair came cascading down reveling Charlie was actually being played by a woman.. Victor Victoria anyone? Balestracci received many accolades in all the NY papers. Mr. Gould, then president of RCMH, presented her with a citation and a sculpture from Tiffany's. According to what I understand, Balestracci still to date is the only performer ever given such recognition. During that time, she was also performing at Lincoln Center's New York State Theater and on a few occassion would litterally run off the stage at RCMH, jump into a cab, go to the state theater, change costume and perform some classical piece. Her memories of that night, were more of the other performers scheduled which were Lana Cantrell and Joan Rivers. She remembers the audience booing Rivers and that she was crying afterwards. The other thing about that night that she remembers is that she did the most pirouettes she ever has done in her career but the camera had pulled in for a close up and all you saw was her head going around and around. The only conversation that she had with Mr. Ed... was when he announced her name and where she was from, which she said "Excuse me Mr. Sullivan, I'm from New Bedford Massachusetts, not Connecticut.

According to Ms. Balestracci, Joyce was younger than her and a student who also studied with the famous Harriet Hoctor in Boston. Balestracci, had already been a solosit for a few years with the RCMH. Joyce decided one day not to perform one show and management told Balestracci to put a costume on and go on stage and wing it. It was the only time Joyce missed a performance and the only time Balestracci ever covered for her.

Inquiring Minds who want to know what happended to Sandra Balesti here is the scoop. That name was only used one time during her career and that was because Radio City Music Hall decided that her name was too long for the marquis. From 1970 through to 1980 her full name always appeared as "Sandra Balestracci" She has had a long and auspicious career dancing around the world and is considered a prima ballerina. Desmond Richardson called the a pioneer in dance as we know it today. Besides Radio City Music Hall, Balestracci spent most of her career as a principal dancer with the New York City Opera Ballet. She probably has had the most versitle of careers as a balerina, from classical ballet, her favorite work being with NYCO/ John Butler in Carmina Burana to John Jackson/Peter Genarro's production of Charlie Chaplin playing the title role. She reitred her pointe shoes at the age of 42 to begin her family and moved to Williamsburg Virginia. She is married and has two children. She is artistic director for the American Youth Ballet Company and owner and director of the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts. She has won Outstanding Teacher at the YAGP in 2002, 2005, & 2008. For a full bio visit her website at www.evspa.org or www.capafund.org. Hope this helps!