Dance Scenes | 1980-4

Paul Russell

The American Ballet Theatre has finally settled its strike, amidst a great deal of gossip. Their American stars have not been too happy about the preferential treatment, financial and otherwise, to Russian stars who joined for artistic freedom. No surprise then, that three of the ABT’s top U.S. stars have defected. Ballerina Cynthia Gregory has resigned again and will make guest appearances with other companies, while ABT’s Great White Hope, Gelsey Kirkland has moved to the Stuttgart Ballet. Fernando Bujoues has yet to sign a contract, as sympathies for the American dancers run high among the ABT rank-and-file. The American dancer is indeed versatile and hardworking, a fact which ABT management apparently doesn’t want to realize.

The New York City Ballet is preparing its Spring Season at Lincoln Center, which will feature another black dancer in their ranks, Cynthia Lockhart. It seems as though NYCB is also preparing ten-year-old Francesca Harper for a future with the company.

Dance Scene’s bits and pieces

George Faison’s divine muse, Kristina Kimball, has stopped dancing to pursue a career as an actress. She has a lead in the film, The Indian in the Bronx. Her sister, Nora, has remained with the Stuttgart Ballet as a soloist

Judith Jamison has recovered from a major injury and is once again on her feet dazzling the dance world.

Charles Moore has also recovered from major surgery and has taken his Dances and Drums of Africa on a tour of the West Indies.

The Joffrey Ballet, which had to discontinue its performances and furlough dancers late last summer, is back in action.

The great black classic dancer, Paul Russell, will soon be seen once again in the city dancing with the Scottish Theatre Ballet.

Roslyn Davis made her bid for stardom when she danced with the Chuck Davis Dance Company during its recent season at the Symphony Space.

Sarah Yarborough has apparently gone the route of Greta Garbo, She ‘‘wants to be alone.’’

Charles Neal has returned from a year’s work of choreography in Panama.

Gary Chryst has left ballet and is headed for Broadway.

Vanoye Aikens has returned from Sweden to help film a retrospective on the life and works of Katherine Dunham.

Former D.T.H. ballerina, Gayle McKinney, has left for Berlin where she is forming a new production company.

The divinely mysterious Sheila Rohan continues to pop up at odd times to make unannounced guest appearances with various companies.

Beautiful black Mexican ballerina, Maria Elena Carter, still has tongues wagging over her brilliant dancing during D.T.H.’s recent season at City Center.

Ronda Sampson has resigned from D.T.H. to grace the pages of Vogue, Bazaar, Ebony, Eminence and Jet, as well as the retrospective photographic collections of Deborah Turboville, Marbeth and Francesco Scavallo.

Pat Cleveland has proven that another way to become a star is to take off the pointe shoes and instead wear high fashion and dance down the runway.

The great dancer, singer and all round entertainer, Sammy Davis, is probably ready to kill Linda Lovelace, of Deep Throat infamy, who has released her book and mentions names.

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