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Gina Ness

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Everything posted by Gina Ness

  1. Although I will always love this quality in Cynthia Gregory, for the same reasons Hans speaks of in his post about Asylmuratova, I must say that Viengsay Valdes of Cuba is amazing in her ability to hold a balance. I have never seen her live, but there is evidence on YouTube that I have seen in addition to cubanmiamiboy's posting. Wow!
  2. Oh, how sad...Such loss in this family...I can't imagine what Vanessa must be going through right now...sigh...
  3. It's a wonderful, delightful ballet...May it live on!
  4. Hello, Douglas...I just had Gardner read this thread. Gardner studied with Gene from 1966 to 1969, so he doesn't remember you as you predate him. Also, he said Gene is in Santa Barbara, not LA. Sorry I got that wrong...Gardner heard this about Gene at the SFB reunion in the spring of 2008 from a former dancing friend. I'm sorry I can't give you any more info about that due to respecting privacy. At least Santa Barbara is smaller than LA! Good Luck, Douglas and John! Maybe someone at State Street Ballet would know?
  5. Gene is alive and living in LA. That's all I can tell you... I heard this fairly recently from someone who would know. Also, my husband is Gardner Carlson who worked with Gene in LA during the 60s. My first ballet teacher is Penelope Lagios who worked with Gene and also with Michael. I have heard amazing stories from them both about these two remarkable teachers!
  6. Thank you very much, Richka, for your words about the memorial for Mr. Zoritch on December 6th. I wish I had been able to attend, but I was thinking about you all...I am sorry about the tape and photo problem (I can really relate to this...but, that's another story!), but you will all forever have the memory of the gathering and the wonderful thoughts and words about Mr. Zoritch's life and his passion for dance. It is wonderful that this event happened in the studio where he taught for so many years....I feel certain that you all could feel his presence! This event reminds me very much of the memorial we had for Alan Howard (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo) at his beloved Academy of Ballet in San Francisco. Howard Sayette attended Alan's memorial, as well. I will never forget that event as you all will never forget your honoring of Mr. Zoritch...
  7. Such beautiful tributes by Mr. Johnson and glebb...I have known her name for years but never had the privilege of meeting her or studying with her. It sounds like she will be very, very missed....
  8. That was lovely! Thank you, Christian...I see my friend, as well. He is Marc Platt.
  9. Thank you very much Richka for keeping us all posted on the memorial for Mr. George Zoritch. It certainly seems that he was very loved by his Tucson dance community as well as by all his many fans over the years...I saw him dance when I was perhaps nine or ten years old at the SF Opera House when he was touring with Ballet Russe. The first teacher of my youth danced with this company, so we were very familiar with the ballets and the dancers of the Ballet Russe. I remember thinking at the time that I was seeing a really famous person! My memory (it was a long time ago and I was quite young!) tells me that he danced with Nina Novak...
  10. Thank you so much, Richka, for sharing this with us. Mr. Zoritch was very fortunate that you were his friend. May he rest in peace...
  11. I absolutely love that sequence, too! It is one of my favorite moments in the entire Ballet Russe film...
  12. Yes...I hope someone will substantiate this soon...That is exactly what my friend said, cubanmiamiboy... The old troupe is shrinking...
  13. I just received a phone call from a dear friend who stars in the Ballet Russe film. He told me he received a call today letting him know that George Zoritch has passed away. I can't find anything when I google Mr. Zoritch. Perhaps the information is too new? Perhaps it is erroneous? Anyway, if anyone has any information, let us all know...
  14. During my years at San Francisco Ballet (1972-1985), we had separate men's and women's class. We had many wonderful guest instructors during this era: Erik Bruhn, Terry Westmoreland and Brian Shaw (Royal Ballet company instructors), and Richard Gibson to name a few superb teachers brought in on a regular basis. Lew Christensen would teach rarely (I have to admit his was not my favorite class), Michael Smuin occasionally (loved Michael!), and sometimes teachers from San Francisco Ballet School would give our classes. Company class was mandatory in this way: Michael Smuin wanted his dancers to take class! He was fine with dancers taking outside classes as long as he was informed that they were taking class. I really thought this was great! Sometimes, if I was dancing something really difficult (like first movement Symphony in C principal) etc., where I really needed to be "over my leg" so to speak, I liked taking class from Yehuda Maor at Dancer's Stage. He got me where I knew I needed to be later that day! Our SFB company classes were very focused and individual correction given on occasion. Really, a very high standard was placed on class at the studios...At the theater, it was different. Before a matinee, company class would be on stage, combined men and women...the whole company plus apprentices. It was a good class, but treated as a class/warm-up for the matinee. Getting the body warmed and ready for performance! For the evening performances, a barre was always offered. I definitely felt that the management really tried their best to provide excellent training for the company dancers during this era at SFB. Professional dancers have different needs than students. Sometimes, teachers that work primarily with aspiring students can be intimidated by teaching professional dancers. I know this for a fact!
  15. I just really loved Patrick Swayze in "Dirty Dancing". He was amazing in that role. It's one of my favorite films. He was so talented and so unique and so handsome! He will be missed...
  16. A beloved member of the San Francisco dance community, Bruce Bain, passed away on July 30th, 2009. May he rest in peace... http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/ob...p;pid=130911677
  17. Good grief! I hope Disney is slapped down..... cubanmiamiboy...
  18. It's pronounced as Hans has noted...Or earlier posts (Farrell Fan), Seren-ODD...I believe Han's "AHD" is the same as "ODD".
  19. I watched Guiding Light for fifteen years! My mother got me hooked. She loved Cindy Pickett, too. I was a true faithful...recording and watching every episode. Seriously, while I was still dancing... Balanchine's Symphony in C Fourth Movement: 10:30 p.m.; GL, a glass of wine: 11:45 p.m... At some point during the mid-to-late 90s, a gangster plot took over (neither one of us cared for it), and both my Mom and I eventually gave up watching. Some of our favorite characters (Roger and the original Alan) were no longer on the show. I have an autographed "To Gina" photo of Grant Aleksander... I can't believe I watched the soap for so many years...So long, GL, and thanks for the memories...
  20. Hello...You edited your original post which makes my response appear sort of pointless. I hope someone else will be able to help you find your information. Good luck in finding the version of Giselle you are seeking...
  21. Hello...I know you are very familiar with Giselle because you have many copies of the ballet. It's strange, but you describe the opening of the "Kingdom of the Shades" scene in La Bayadere. Could you possibly be confusing the two ballets? Just a thought...P.S. Go to You Tube and search for La Bayadere Kingdom of the Shades Paris Opera Ballet. Here is a beautiful example of the entrance you might be speaking of...
  22. The "corps" in Concerto Barocco almost isn't really a corps role. It's more like eight demi-soloists! Although I eventually danced the second principal more than the corps, my first experience in this wonderful ballet was in the corps with SFB in the late 70s. It is the most fun I ever had dancing in the corps. I absolutely loved dancing Concerto Barocco! I enjoyed the musicality and choreography immensely. I remember feeling at the end like I had just participated in an amazing mathematical, artistic, musical, athletic formula! Totally glorious to dance!
  23. Irina Baronova was a Pisces! I will be thinking of her on her 90th birthday. I have a special friend who is also featured in the Ballet Russe documentary. He always speaks of Baronova so highly...almost reverently. It seems clear to me that he regarded her as one of the finest dancers to grace the stage at the Ballet Russe.
  24. "What's Opera, Doc"... I'm a life-long fan...Warner Bros. Cartoons...
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