Hello, I worked at Radio City Music Hall in the late 60s and early 70s. I was in the ballet group there. I went there becaseu my ballet company was on a layover and I was out of work. So like many ballet dancers out of work, I went to Radio City Music Hall. Joyce was the lead in one of the shows. I believe it was the Christmas Show. I will have to get out my pictures and programs to be sure. She was really incredible. The music was live of course. Some days the orchestra leader was Paul Lavalle. What a trip to try to follow him. Most days, the conductor would follow Joyce but not Lavalle. Joyce would do these pirouettes on pointe....like an incredible amount...he would keep the orchestra playing and then quickly stop hoping to catch her. but she stayed up there just a turning and she always stayed with him. stopping on a dime in the most beautiful fourth postion. And smiling like crazy. After a few performaces like this, we learned to count the pirouettes. She would do like 12....at one time....after the show was over for that perfomance, we would go on stage during the movie to check out the circles where her shoes and rosin left marks. Neat. I always liked to turn so to me she was the best ever. I remember the name Balesti but not as clearly as Joyce. I think she was older and had dark hair. She was friendly. When I think of anything else I will let you know. I will look for the costume in my pictures too.
