A Steady Diet of Film

Moira Shearer, 1926 - 2006

Famous British ballerina and actress Moira Shearer passed away Monday at age 80. From the Bloomberg obituary:

Choreographers from Frederick Ashton to Robert Helpmann clamored to make ballets for her. Shearer originated the principal roles in Ashton's ``Symphonic Variations'' and his full-length, evening-long 1948 ``Cinderella,'' revived last season on both sides of the Atlantic, for his centennial.

``The Red Shoes'' was seen by Shearer as a complication in her life as it coincided with an injury to Fonteyn and a consequently heavier work schedule for the company's other lead dancers. She always said she was ``pestered'' into the production by the filmmakers and was worried that it would adversely affect her Sadler's Wells career.

Shearer's coloring alone made her stand out; her dancing was more modern and less lyrical than the other principal dancers of the time, and she was criticized for ``flashiness.'' She was better suited to the new ballets, which showed off her technique, her lightness and her intelligence.

See also: Ballerina Gallery and Wikipedia

posted by Erin @ Thursday, February 02, 2006