Tanaquil Le Clercq - Balanchine's Muse .....leaves us. - criticaldance.com ballet and modern dance forum


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Tanaquil Le Clercq - Balanchine's Muse .....leaves us.

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Author	Topic: Tanaquil Le Clercq - Balanchine's Muse .....leaves us.
Basheva Moderator	posted January 01, 2001 07:30 New York Times: quote: In a tragic end to her performing career, the still-young ballerina contracted paralytic polio in 1956 while she was at the peak of her powers. At the time she was also married to Balanchine, his fourth wife. Her luminously elegant style, the freshness of her long-legged wit and her mysterious dramatic perfume had attracted an adoring public. The dance world went into shock MORE IP: Logged
Stuart Sweeney Administrator	posted January 01, 2001 09:32 I'm surprised that the NY Times didn't take the chance to put up a photo of Tanaquil, as she must rate as one of the most photogenic dancers ever. My favourite is from 'Tributes', the 50th Anniversary celebration book and is in connection with 'The Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne'. The 1948 photo by Irving Penn shows Le Clerq standing in a corner with Balanchine, the designer and the composer at her feet. Here's one from The Granger Collection. the reference does not tell us what the work is. Stuart added later: as you will see further down, Leigh Witchel has kindly identified the photo for us as Balanchine's 'La Valse' from 1951: [This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited January 02, 2001).] IP: Logged
Basheva Moderator	posted January 01, 2001 10:59 I tried to find an article or announcement of this sad event in The Los Angeles Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer - but there was nothing. IP: Logged
Stuart Sweeney Administrator	posted January 01, 2001 12:09 Having read the article more thoroughly, I see that Robbins dropped her solo from 'The Concert' when her illness stopped her dancing. I can believe that her character, '...who struck a serious note with a long introspective solo....' could well have provided a valuable counterweight to the knockabout fun of the version of the work that we see now. IP: Logged
Leigh Witchel Member	posted January 01, 2001 20:27 Stuart - The picture is from Balanchine's La Valse (1951). LeClercq is portrayed in the lead role of the doomed heroine who waltzes with Death at first curiously, then greedily, and finally fatally. Edwin Denby's essays on her performance portray her morbid abandon as unforgettable. IP: Logged
Stuart Sweeney Administrator	posted January 02, 2001 12:22 Many thanks Leigh for identifying the photo as it was frustrating not knowing. Also for the interesting Denby comment - she was a dancer I would have loved to see. IP: Logged
Maggie Moderator	posted January 02, 2001 07:15 What a beautiful picture, made more so by the tragedy of her life. I voted this photo for front page. IP: Logged
Lauren Member	posted January 02, 2001 12:10 I am truly saddened by this. What a loss to the dance community. She was a remarkable women, very courageous and incredibly generous to ballet companies performing Balanchine works. I will always remember her wonderful generosity to Diablo Ballet. In fact, knowing this news, I am going to make a special dedication to her at our upcoming performance January 13. IP: Logged
trina Moderator	posted January 03, 2001 10:43 I am shocked and saddened by this. Although I had never seen her perform, I read much about her. A couple of years ago, the NY Times maganzine section had an extensive article about her with beautiful photos. Someone who is a computer archive wiz may want to search out this article and post it!! It was a revelation---many amazing, intimate anectdotes by and about LeClerq and Balanchine. What a tragic life, but what a triumphant life....!!! Her atttitude, after living in a wheelchair for more than half her life (according to this article) was unflaggingly positive, yet stoic, with an amazing sense of humor and wit!!! IP: Logged
Stuart Sweeney Administrator	posted January 04, 2001 02:07 A full and gracious obituary from The Guardian, including a personal note from Patricia Lousada: quote: Tanny and I were students together at the School of American Ballet, where she was already a star pupil: her style and exceptional promise were evident even then. I admired her dancing enormously, but I admired her courage in facing her illness even more. Her wit and strength never left her, nor did she indulge in self-pity. It was always a treat to be in her vivacious company, as I and her many other devoted friends will testify. Http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4112230,00.html IP: Logged
Basheva Moderator	posted January 05, 2001 18:35 Los Angeles Times article by Lewis Segal: quote: Tanaquil Le Clercq, the legendary American ballerina whom poet Frank O'Hara once called "perfection's broken heart," died Sunday at New York Hospital at age 71. According to sources at the New York City Ballet, her home company, the cause of death was pneumonia MORE [Edited by Azlan to mend formatting] [This message has been edited by Azlan (edited January 05, 2001).] IP: Logged
Basheva Moderator	posted May 22, 2001 08:14 From the New York Times: Tanaquil Le Clercq Tribute Recalls a Life in Dance By JACK ANDERSON quote: Colleagues and friends gathered on Sunday night at the New York State Theater to remember Tanaquil Le Clercq, the elegant ballerina of the New York City Ballet who died on New Year's Eve at the age of 71. MORE... IP: Logged

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