Ballet for Your Weekend [by Stacey Harwood Lehman]

Cynthia Gregory was one of the great prima ballerinas of the last century. I'd seen her American Ballet Theater performances countless times and the "after image" of her Odette-Odile in Swan Lake is indelible. She was memorable for her long expressive line, her subtle acting, the intelligence that always seemed to find something new in classic roles. She was the epitome of elegance.

Shortly after I moved to New York City in the late '70s, I went to a movie at a theater near Lincoln Center. I don't recall the feature, but before it began, this short film of Gregory dancing with Ivan Nagy rolled. It has haunted me ever since, and based on the comments below the YouTube video, which surfaced recently, others had a similar reaction. What do you think?

During those years, my sister Amy and I often attended the summer weekend matinees at Lincoln Center. One afternoon, moments before the first curtain, we grabbed a couple of empty orchestra seats we had spied from our perch in the balcony. Just as the conductor tapped his baton,a voice came over the loudspeaker to announce that Ms. Gregory would not be dancing. "Damn," I said. "You can't plan on anything these days." "Sometimes we have injuries," said the woman seated to my right. I turned. It was Cynthia Gregory, and her ankle was bandaged. I hadn't recognized her in street clothes and without stage makeup.

On another occasion, my sister and I had a post-performance snack at O'Neal's Balloon, a casual restaurant that faced the State Theater dressing room exit. Just as our drinks arrived, Cynthia Gregory stepped onto the street and into a cab. Her arms were filled with bouquets of lilies. She was wearing a white silky summer dress and a white straw hat with an enormous brim. Was she a vision or a waking dream?

-- sdl

This is an update of a post that originally appeared in 2010. 

Comments

[Emily Fragos]

Thank you, Stacey, for your passionate articles on dance. They delight my sagging spirit and refresh my tired mind. I loved Cynthia Gregory's performances with the late, great Fernando Bujones and with Ivan Nagy, too. You describe her artistic power so perfectly.

I could be way off, but I wonder if the vision in white was Cynthia Gregory at all. After all, she danced at the Met with the ABT. I'm wondering why she would be coming out of the State Theater, home to the NYCB.

Great dancer, best Swan Lake ever, and wonderful ballet for my snowy weekend. Thank you so much!

[Stacey]

Thank you for your comment and support Emily. Fernando Bujones was thrilling to watch. Funny, someone once challenged me for saying I loved both NYCB and ABT. Why choose? Reminds me of the O'Hara poem "My Heart"
Though I haven't checked lately, ABT used to have its longer season at the Metropolitan Opera house and the shorter fall season at City Center and later at the State Theater (now the Koch) at Lincoln Center.

[Emily Fragos]

Thanks, Stacey. I figured it was something like that. Yeah, those 2 great dance companies have their fervent followers and never the twain shall meet. I guess if you love Balanchine, it's NYCB -- now and forever. If you prefer the more traditional, classical ballets, the ones with all those princes, it's ABT, although they perform Balanchine, too, of course. I'm a Balanchine fanatic myself, but I have enjoyed many legendary performances at The Met. It is an embarrassment of riches.

I love your dance memories and articles. Please keep them coming.