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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Ballet Legend 'Retires.' Or Was He Fired?

The dancers of the Miami City Ballet do George Balanchine better than anyone else. Joan Acocella, singling out their mastery of the late great choreographer's work in a New Yorker review, heaps the credit on the Ballet's founder and artistic director, Edward Villella, a short, raven-haired stage icon from Queens, NY, whose blue collar roots and superior skills endeared him to Balanchine when the two men ruled the New York City dance scene in the sixties. Back then, Villella was a hit with crowds as much as he was with colleagues. Acocella says Balanchine even dreamed up a "butch" chase sequence in the 1967 ballet "Rubies" just to cater to the strength that put Villella, an ex-boxer and Maritime College graduate, so at odds with other principles.

Dogged by hip injuries, Villella went on to found the MCB 29 years ago. Now, at 75, his persuasive powers seem undimmed. His dancers and donors praise his energy and vision -- he ushered the regional troupe to the historic stages of Manhattan and Paris to great acclaim -- and maintain he's the reason the Ballet can bill itself, as it does on its web site, "Florida's internationally acclaimed company."

So why would the Ballet's board force such a phenomenon into early retirement?

It's mysterious, but it seems that's what's happened.

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