Edward Villella: on “a guy” called Stravinsky
In my relative youth, Edward Villella was one of my favorite dancers—and to tell you the truth I was more than a little bit in love with him. Here he talks—with his usual modesty—about what it’s like to be in the presence of greatness. I think he’s in his 60s or 70s here (he’s now close to 80):
Edward Villella Interview from Deb kaufman on Vimeo.
It shows why I love Villella, who in his prime once taught a class of mine and had me swooning. I married someone who looked more than a little bit like him, by the way.
Years ago when I last checked, I could find very little video of Villella dancing, even on YouTube. But let me just say he was handsome, virile, graceful, and emotional all at once, although I don’t think his power as a dancer would transfer all that well to film or video. Yes, his technique didn’t have the perfect polish of many of today’s male dancers, but in person that didn’t detract, it somehow added.
I’ve just noticed, though, that someone has uploaded on YouTube a lengthy documentary on Villella. I haven’t had a chance to look at it except for a couple of minutes, but I like Villella’s little speech at the beginning of this segment:
[NOTE: I’ve written before about Villella, here.]
I remember that Life Mag. printed a picture of him dancing, and they said he was the best conditioned athlete in the world.
Thanks for this post, Neo! How wonderful that you got to take Villella’s class!
I first saw Villella at Jacob’s Pillow, dancing with Patty McBride back in the 60s. We went with a friend of theirs and so got to meet them backstage, play with Villella’s two dogs, and – as girls of 10 and 11 are wont to do – just gaze in awe as they spoke with us.
I was seriously upset when Peter Martins was appointed head of the NYCB after Balanchine’s death. Villella seemed a better fit to me and far more talented. Three seasons after Martin’s appointment, I cancelled my subscription. Especially galling was Martins effectively banning Villella, Farrell, et.al. from participating in carrying on the Balanchine tradition at NYCB. So, so petty.
Miami was lucky to get Villella, although sadly that didn’t end well for him.
Thanks for your memories and this video.
I saw him perform in the 70’s. He could really leap! Isn’t he now the artistic director for the Miami Ballet?
Stu:
He was their director for a long time, but not that long ago he was unceremoniously booted in a controversial move.
I don’t follow dance at all, but I remember him appearing, as himself, in a episode of the “Odd Couple”. For reasons unknown to me, my memory recalls some trivia, while forgetting seemingly important things.
I saw him dance when I was about (I think) seven years old. I want to say it was Giselle, but I really am not sure. My mother took us to the ballet in Chicago many, many times. I saw all the major ballets and I just remember she purposely took us to see him dance at least once. Also, Nureyev and Makarova. I had an amazing mother.
I grew up on Miami Beach and when The first ballet company was formed, the Miami Ballet, it was exciting when Edward Villela became the director. The ballet was actually based on Miami Beach where it had its building right behind the Miami Beach Public Library (where I spent just about every weekend), just off Collins Avenue (probably the “main drag” with which most who visited the ‘Beach were familiar with all the top hotels were located.
Most exciting was the fact that the Ballet rehearsed in an old windowed storefront on Lincoln Road, which was the first outdoor shopping mall in the country and a posh one at that. After neing practically deserted for years after Saks Fifth Avenue moved North to Bal Harbor, the srea was revived in the establishment of “South Beach” on the southern end of our very long but narrow island. Passersby enjoy a treat as one can watch rejearsals all the time through the windows of the old storefront.
Here is an in-depth article on Villela by a writer who covered the Ballet for most of its existence:
http://ellimanmedia.com/elevate-magazine/the-spectacular-rise-fall-of-edward-villella-americas-baryshnikov/