Artistic Director Septime Webre’s internationally acclaimed Washington Ballet is preparing to present Bolero (+) April 4-18 at Sidney Harman Hall. However, there would be no Washington Ballet were it not for the vision, grace and fortitude of Mary Day, founder of The Washington School of Ballet, who would have turned 100 this year.
Elvi Moore, who served as Executive Director and then General Director of The Washington Ballet, has compiled remembrances of her mentor in a new book Mary Day Grande Dame of Dance in the Nation’s Capital. On April 6, the WB Women’s Committee hosted a reception following a panel discussion of the book moderated by Septime in the England Studio Theater. Participants included author Elvi Moore; Alice Bralove, who trained at the school and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; Elizabeth Gahl, who dances with CityDance Ensemble, and Geoffrey R. W. Smith, an attorney with VisasForDancers. He is a former Chairman of The Washington Ballet Board of Directors and takes class regularly. WB faculty member Stephanie Walz, who trained at the school and has danced with the American Ballet Theatre among other companies, rounded out the panel.
Septime, called Mary Day “the founder and soul” of the Washington Ballet and said he soon realized her impact when he studied in New York in the l980’s alongside Mary Day-trained dancers distinguished at every echelon of their profession.
Alice Bralovesaid she was the only one who started with Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner when they founded the school in l944, moving to the current Wisconsin and Porter Street location in l948.
Elizabeth Gahl had to leave early for a student rehearsal but not before recalling Miss Day as a passionate nurturer who taught her trust in herself through attention to details combining artistry and soul. She said “she had more faith in me than I had in myself.”
Mary Day was not always an easy person and could perplex choreographers with her cryptic assessment of a performance as “well it went” or “they danced.”
Former students include Shirley McLaine, Amanda McKerrow and Chelsea Clinton. In l981, McKerrow became the first American to win a gold medal at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Only days before her death, the dancer and her husband John Gardner spent several hours with Miss Day discussing current choreographers and the training of dancers today.
The book is a must read for dance lovers and is available at Politics & Prose and the Kennedy Center Gift Shop as well as on line at amazon.com and washingtonballet.org.
Women’s Committee President Beth Kohlhoss, author Elvi Moore
Alice Bralove, Pat Skantze
Lynda Erkiletian, Paul Wharton
WB Executive Director Russell Allen, Lois England, WB Director of External Relations Michael Hill
1 Comment For This Article
Well, that is all said and done. But, I was one of the first dancers to enter the Acadamy, Washington School of ballet as both dancer and high school student. I think all of us that were that at that time have the best perspecive of the REAL Mary Day as we lived and breathed with her for many years. We went upstairs above the studios and had dinners with her. She came to our dorms and talked frankly with us about her dreams and what she wanted us to do. Our friend, Pat Berrend who not only was a great dancer for Mary, served as the most amazing coach and teacher for MANY years at WSB and I do NOT see her mentioned any where on here. Though you all came later to the scene, we were on the cusp and saw the true creation of what Mary wanted.