kirovgal Posted September 21, 2001 Share Posted September 21, 2001 Does anyone know who Henry Danton was? He's my teacher, and he's not very well known in today's time, but in the 40's and 50's he was quite famous....consider this a scavenger hunt for info, if you have time to surf the net and stuff....I'll letcha know if you're right! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted September 22, 2001 Share Posted September 22, 2001 Henry Danton was a Principal Dancer of the Sadler's Wells Ballet, and one of the originators of "Symphonic Variations". His name comes up from time to time on Ballet History and Dancers. Run a search using his name. Link to comment
kirovgal Posted September 23, 2001 Author Share Posted September 23, 2001 Wow! I didn't think anyone would be interested in this! Do you know Mr. Danton personally? Just wondering. I can't find the earlier posts about Mr. Danton. I tried searching, but it only gave me this. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted September 23, 2001 Share Posted September 23, 2001 Did you check the "Dancers" forum in the General discussion? And there was a post not all that long ago on Adult Ballet Students. As to knowing Mr. Danton, I have not had the honor. Link to comment
atm711 Posted September 24, 2001 Share Posted September 24, 2001 Chujoy's Dance Encyclopedia lists the following about Henry Danton: (real name, Henry Down), dancer b. Bedford, England, 1919. Educated at Wellington College and Royal Military Academy (Woolrich). After three and a half years in military service started to study dance (1940) with Judith Espinosa, Vera Volkova, Victor Gsovsky, Egorova, Kniasief, Rosanne. Soloist "International Ballet" (1942-43) dancing Prince (Swan Lake), Les Sylphides; Sadler's Wells Ballet (1943-46), dancing Florestan (Sleeping Beauty), The Rake's Progress, Les Patineurs, pas de trois from Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, etc. Created Dragonfly (Spider's Banquet), role in Symphonic Variations. Left Sadler's Wells in 1946 to continue studies in Paris. Has also appeared with small ballet companies. This Encyclopedia was published in 1949. Link to comment
kirovgal Posted September 24, 2001 Author Share Posted September 24, 2001 Yep! That's him! Thanks alot! It shows that a wonderful teacher's name isn't lost after all! Link to comment
Sigrid Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Does anyone know who Henry Danton was? He's my teacher, and he's not very well known in today's time, but in the 40's and 50's he was quite famous....consider this a scavenger hunt for info, if you have time to surf the net and stuff....I'll letcha know if you're right! Henry Danton taught in NY in the 1960's and perhaps early70's. Where is he now? He was an absolutely pivotal model in many young dancers' development. I would love to be able to communicate that to him. He instilled great love for dance and absolute stoicism en pointe--no foam, no lambswool between your toes and the floor. Link to comment
rg Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 he is, to the best of my information, working now with BALLET THEATRE OF SCRANTON (in PA) and working on a staging of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY for this group. he's also teaching somewhere in OH. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 And if for some reason, you need to remember the original cast of "Symphonic Variations", sing the names to the opening theme of the music: "Margot Fon-teyn, Moira Shear-er, Michael SOMES, Brian SHAW, Henry DAN-ton. (new phrase) and PAM-ela May...." Link to comment
Fraildove Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Yes he is teaching with ballet Theatr of Scranton on Mondays, then teaching for Toledo Classical Ballet in Oh Wed-Fri. He is still very active and an inspiration to all who take classes with him. He just finished staging The Sleeping Beauty for BTS, and will be working with TCB on their Swan Lake and Paquita. Link to comment
dirac Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 And if for some reason, you need to remember the original cast of "Symphonic Variations", sing the names to the opening theme of the music: "Margot Fon-teyn, Moira Shear-er, Michael SOMES, Brian SHAW, Henry DAN-ton. (new phrase) and PAM-ela May...." Exactly what Alastair Macaulay said! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 And as Igor Stravinsky said: "Since you're going to steal anyway, steal from the best!" Link to comment
rg Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 the attached scan is not unfamiliar from books but this is the first photo print i've seen (other than postcard fotos) of the first cast of SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS - Danton is the first on the left in the line-up beyond the standing figure of Fonteyn, which would, i guess, qualify him as her 'partner' in ashton's scheme. Link to comment
artist Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 He doesn't seem to have much turnout in his right leg, even compared to everyone else. What year was this photo taken? Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I'd say you'd have to know more about how this picture was taken, whether it was posed or in motion, and whether he was totally in sync with everyone else before being able to make a statement about his turnout. Link to comment
artist Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 You're right. I was also comparing the head and arms between the two girls in the back. I'm more attracted to the second one because it seems more open. Although the first reminds me of Giselle or Swan Lake. Link to comment
bart Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Google Images turns up several photos. For example, here's a head shot from the (Australian) National Theatre Ballet program, 1952, several years after his entry in Chujoy's book: http://www.hat-archive.com/henrydanton.jpg And here is Mr. Danton in the same company's production of David Lichine's Protee, also in 1952. http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an24026624 http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an24026632-v Link to comment
rg Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 the photo of HD in SYMPHONIC V was likely take in 1946 or soon thereafter. Link to comment
Jane Simpson Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Henry Danton was one of the stars in a programme shown on BBC television last night, focusing on the way the Sadler's Wells Ballet matured during WW2. He's 93, looks amazing, talks with humour and sense - terrific! And the programme also included a precious few seconds of the dress rehearsal of Symphonic Variations, including Danton - it was a revelation, so much more freely danced than we see it today (although of course I know it was a rehearsal and therefore not necessarily what the first-night audience saw). The programme also included interviews with Julia Farron (also 93, and the last survivor of the company's near-disastrous tour of Holland in the early days of the war) and with Beryl Grey (86), Gillian Lynne (88) and Pauline Clayden (91), all of them exceptionally articulate and fascinating. A lovely programme! Link to comment
cbiadancenter Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 At 95 years old, Mr. Danton is still teaching in MS in Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Columbia. You can read a complete bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Danton. Link to comment
Fraildove Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Reviving an old topic. Wanted to let everyone know that Henry Danton celebrated his 100th birthday on March 30. He is still teaching almost daily, still travels on his own, and is as sharp and witty as ever. He is an amazing man to know and am grateful for the time I’ve been ablet to spend with him, talking and learning about both ballet and life in general. Such an inspiration! Link to comment
dirac Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Thank you so much for updating us on Mr. Danton, Fraildove. This is great news. So glad to hear he is doing well and best wishes for his health and happiness! Link to comment
Helene Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 We received this message directly to the board: Dear All: HENRY DANTON Possible for one to contact Henry on my behalf? "Henry it is I, Bam, Ralph Kenneth McNeill's dtr. and I wanted to wish you well, and share that I am scrap booking Ralph's ballet photos and Art. He was the navy recruiter WWII and maybe one of your Allied Ballet male dancers in your month long project of WWII? Kathryn his wife (and my mom) also Served. First she was m. to James White, Jr. of Clinton, LA, martial arts master and boxing King captured (WWII) with Sissy's husband and needing to be broken out. Small dance troop entered and the 12 or so were taken to safety. Ralph Kenneth Mcneill m. Kathryn Louise Shanteau White left many a photo of above events. Would love to e-chat with you, Henry Danton, should someone be able to contact you on my behalf: Sincerely, Betsi Anne McNeill Sukoenig Nagasawa b. Gulfport, MS and now in: Santa Monica, CA I have contact information, if it's possible to pass it on. Link to comment
rg Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 i am in sometime touch with HD, so i can copy and paste this text and send it along to him. do you want me to wait for the contact info. before forwarding this message along to him? Link to comment
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