As a charter member of Boston Ballet and its predecessor, New England Civic Ballet, Laura Young has been affiliated with the company longer than any other dancer in its history. This book is both a memoir of her personal journey and a fascinating account of Boston Ballet’s rise from a regional troupe to the internationally recognized company that it is today. It is interspersed with ruminations on the history of ballet, stories from the company’s Balanchine-influenced early years under founder E. Virginia Williams, and recollections from noteworthy tours, including those featuring the legendary Rudolf Nureyev, with whom Young was frequently paired. After retiring from the stage, Young has continued her affiliation with Boston Ballet, both as an administrator and a teacher. Working in collaboration with Janine Parker, Young has written a lively, informed, and entertaining memoir.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments • Prologue: Romeo and Juliet, Life, Death, and Dancing • If the Shoe Fits • Grand Jeté • Return to Forever • Relevé • Allegro • Onstage, Offstage • Pas de Bourrée and Bourrée • Arabesque Voyagée • Fouetté • Tour Jeté • Ballon • À Terre; en l’Air • La Belle au Bois Dormant • Pas de Chat • Tendu • Tour en l’Air • Rudi, Rudi, Rudi • Manèges • Temps de l’Ange • En Avant • Changement • Révérence • Epilogue: My Fourth Act • Notes • Index