17 replies to this topic

[futureABTdancer]

I dont know if this is the right place to post this but... I have a question for Victoria Leigh. What was it like dancing with ABT? I fantasize about it. How hard was it to get there? Where did you train prior to ABT? Any tips on how I can get there? Did you have great feet? Did you have great turnout?

[Victoria Leigh]

I loved ABT and totally loved my years there. When I was there, a long time ago, the company toured a lot more. We did a lot of bus tours all over the country, and did a lot of one night stands in smaller cities as well as longer stays in the larger cities. The company was much smaller then, like 40-45 dancers. We toured in 2 buses for the dancers and orchestra, and a third bus for the crew. There were 2 huge trucks that carried all the sets and costumes.

When we went out of the country we would fly, of course. We did a wonderful 3 month tour of 9 countries in South America, and six weeks in Russia.

Getting into the company was always hard, but I don't think it was any harder than it is now. Maybe not quite as hard because there were not as many well trained dancers then. The training has improved greatly over the years, and there are so many wonderful dancers in this country now. This is great, but it also makes it harder to find a job, as there are not enough companies for all the dancers.

I was trained in Florida, and a little bit in Canada.

You get there by first having the talent and facility for ballet, and then by having excellent training both in quality and quantity, and by being very focused and dedicated, and of course by working very hard. A good work ethic is extremely important!

[futureABTdancer]

I find it so cool that you got to do that! That is a great opportunity. I hope I can dance with ABT one day. I look to you for inspiration. Its so cool that I can talk to someone who danced with my dream company. Its really nice of you to talk to us on this website.

What other professional dancers did you know or danced with?

[Victoria Leigh]

Lots of them, and some wonderful choreographers too. My favorite was Antony Tudor. I loved his ballets and I learned sooooooo much working with him. The principals in the company at that time were Lupe Serrano, Toni Lander, Royes Fernandez, John Kriza, Ruth Ann Koeson, Sallie Wilson, Bruce Marks, Eleanor D'Antuano, and Scott Douglas. Guests who danced with us during my years were Nureyev, Fonteyn, and Maria Tallchief. I also worked with Violette Verdy, who coached me during a 3 month period of time before I was in ABT. Lynn Seymour and Peter Martins were guests when I was with a different company. I had pas de deux classes with Anton Dolin, and danced in ballets choreographed and staged by Harold Lander, Agnes DeMille, and Jerome Robbins. We did some Balanchine ballets, but they were already in the repertoire and I never worked directly with him. I'm sure there are others, but these are the names that come to mind. It was a great time in American ballet, and I was very fortunate to be a part of it!

[butterflyprincess]

Oh my goodness Miss.Leigh, Nureyev and Fonteyn were guests who danced with you! they are my idols!
XOXO

[futureABTdancer]

They are my idols too!! Wow, thats amazing!

[futureABTdancer]

What were some of the roles you were casted as??

[Victoria Leigh]

In the days I was in ABT, with fewer dancers in the company, we were all in everything! Even as a soloist, I was usually in every ballet or almost every ballet. One of my favorites was Grand Pas Glazunov, which is the same as Pas de Dix from Raymonda. There are 4 soloists and I did 3 of them at various times. Soloist in Theme and Variations, Elder Sister in Pillar of Fire, Big Swans, Moyna and Zulma (soloist Wilis) in Giselle, learned Myrtha but never got to do it, Aurora in Aurora's Wedding, Lilac Garden, Gala Performance, Taglioni in Pas de Quatre, Don Q pas, Fairy of Love and also the Princess in a ballet in London called The Princess, Burning Girl in Caprichios, Dance Hall Girl in Billy the Kid, every part except the principal in Etudes, soloist in Serenade, etc., etc., etc. I was doing Lise in La Fille Mal Gardee in Germany but got hurt 2 weeks before we opened, so never got to do it. Some of those parts mentioned above were not at ABT, but as a guest artist in various places, and also at National Ballet of Canada.

[winddancer9]

Wow. What an incredible career. I'd just like to thank you, Ms. Leigh, for taking the time to share your experience and expertise with all of us aspiring dancers here on Ballet Talk.

[Victoria Leigh]

You are most welcome. A little ancient history from time to time is good!

[futureABTdancer]

I agree, you had an awesome career.

[futureABTdancer]

Have you met Ethan Stiefel? I looooooooooove himmmmm

[Victoria Leigh]

No, I have not met Ethan Stiefel. I have been teaching for a very long time, and have not met a lot of the dancers who are prominent now.

[futureABTdancer]

Oh.

[Victoria Leigh]

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am more involved with the next generation of dancers, maybe like you.