A woman who needs no introduction. I present to you all Miss Cynthia Harvey. One of ABT’s greatest ballerinas. A crazy story. Now… One day I was in class at the Basel theater and Cynthia Harvey walked up to the door and started to watch class… That’s it. Even the teacher was star-struck. She was there to teach for the Ballettschule in Theater Basel. Lucky kids. After class I introduced myself right away.  She was so sweet! All the REAL divas always are. AND it turns out she knows Michelle Benash! The dance world is so small. She stayed for a few weeks so I got to chat with her quite often… I begged her to teach us, but her schedule was impossible.

Cynthia Harvey’s style marked her as one of ballet’s most versatile and valued artists. Miss Harvey danced virtually every ballerina role with American Ballet Theatre and also had the distinction of being invited by Sir Anthony Dowell to be a principal of the Royal Ballet. Cynthia performed as guest artist with Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends and numerous companies before retiring in 1995. A prominent freelance teacher worldwide, Miss Harvey taught the ladies at the Prix de Lausanne in 2009 and 2010, and has recently formed her own foundation, En Avant, to mentor and provide master coaching for dancers.

Cynthia has come back every year since then. It is nice to have her good energy in the hallway. She continues to inspire me. Thank you Cynthia for your inspiration and believing in this series!

 

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

I wanted to be an airline hostess at one time, and very briefly I wanted to be a fireman (not knowing that I would then be called a firewoman, and mostly because I liked the color red). When I realized at age eleven that ballet dancing was not just a hobby, but that I could actually earn a living as a dancer, there was no turning back. In thinking about it, we are serving (art) and heroic (taking risks and being brave onstage) so I incorporated the two previous wishes somehow. – Ok, so I’m stretching it a bit.

Your Favorite Things (feel free to put more than one)

My son, my cat (they’re clearly not THINGS, but anyway…), MUSIC first and foremost, The Beatles, reading, movies, sunshine, moving this body, the smell outside after it rains, good coffee, daydreaming, being warm, and getting more than five hours of sleep.

Favorite Things to eat?

Japanese food, Italian food, freshly baked cookies, crisp apples, and fresh bread with olive oil or butter-none of that margarine for me.

Favorite Books?

Anna Karenina, (Tolstoy) Orfeo, (Richard Powers) most anything by Bill Bryson, Swann’s Way, (Marcel Proust), There’s Something about Kevin, (Lionel Shriver), On Chesil Beach and Enduring Love, (Ian McEwan), Telegraph Avenue (Michael Chabon).

Favorite Movies?

The Skin I Live In, High Society, Philadelphia Story, A Hard Day’s Night, It’s a Wonderful Life, The English Patient, Blade Runner, The Red Shoes, Fantasia.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

I’m not able to state my favorite ballet or dance piece. There have been too many to name.
As for the musicals, Company, A Little Night Music, Follies, (Stephen Sondheim), West Side Story (Robbins/Sondheim, Bernstein- original), the theater group, Complicite ( founded by Simon McBurney, Annabel Arden, and Marcello Magni). They are amazing.

I like dancers who…

…Are honest performers and who reflect the music; who don’t try to impose themselves in an indulgent way on the dance, but who serve the piece, the music, and the choreographer.

I am afraid of…

Government manipulation for their own purposes and not for that of the people. Aside from that, I’m not afraid of anything.

A dance piece should…

Have a beginning and an ending. A middle would also be useful!

Something you like to do other than your current job?

Spend time with my son and other people whose company I enjoy. I would love to be a book reviewer or a travel writer. That’s not going to happen in the near future.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

The day my son was born, though I could have done without the long labor and the pain.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

One? There have been so many! A hot air balloon ride many years ago, swimming in the infinity pool high above Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, seeing Paul McCartney and Ringo live more than once, meeting Elizabeth Taylor who sent me a bottle of champagne for my first Swan Lake. She encouraged me and helped to ease my nerves. Dancing my first full-length ballet with Sir Anthony Dowell, dancing and performing with Mikhail Baryshnikov, having worked with Makarova, and Erik Bruhn. Convincing an American airline (many years ago) that I had to get off the plane after we made an emergency landing in Washington at Dulles International airport (after the plane had been hit by lightening for the third time). I told them that I had to do a performance there and it was silly for me to wait for the storm to pass to fly to New York-(NYC was the ultimate destination). They brought a ladder to the door and I exited with my tutu and hand luggage. They even delivered my suitcase to my hotel! I’ve been fortunate.

One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

I was, recently, the president of the jury for the Prix de Lausanne and completely mispronounced some Swiss/German names, not once, not twice, but three times in a live stream. Yikes. As well, I fell several times on stage during my career, was tipped out of the sledge (sleigh) in Nutcracker and laughed so much I couldn’t do the next lift with my partner. Got my underpants (the kind you wear under a costume) caught on Anthony Dowell’s hook and eye on the sleeves of his costume so that his arm was attached for several moments under my costume.

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

My first ballet teacher, Christine Walton, was the most influential person in my life. She taught me my love of dance and HOW to do it. Without her, I’d have been just another little girl who wanted to be a ballerina. After Christine Walton, it has to be David Howard, the brilliant ballet teacher and mentor. He taught me to really move. Mikhail Baryshnikov has been a mensch. There are others who influenced me personally by giving me pause for thought, regularly forcing me to ruminate on life and love. For that I’m forever grateful.

One of the hardest things about your job?

As a freelance teacher/coach/stager of ballets, agreeing to do a job and then being offered something rather wonderful for the same dates that I have to turn down. I find too, that it is difficult sometimes to muzzle a tendency to voice my opinion when my standards get in the way, especially when I am not responsible for something.

Something you would change in the DANCE world?

I’d love to change the trend of showing off ability instead of showing us how beautiful or moving something can be. I would love to be able to change the need to emphasize how many and how much.

Something you would change in the REAL world?

Oh, if only I could change things. I suppose I’d like to rid the world of rude people, snobs, people who are arrogant and disrespectful, those who are judgmental, and people who don’t understand that love is more powerful than hate.

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

Yes. I’d love to learn to play an instrument well.

A question you want to know the answer to:

Why?

A piece of advice for aspiring artists?

Don’t take shortcuts or cheat in your work. Be disciplined, and finally, take your work seriously and yourself lightly.

 

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Photo by ©Paul B Goode

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Photo by ©Paul B Goode

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Gamzatti, photo by Greg Heisler_compressed

Photo by ©Greg-Heisler


Main photo by ©Ian Whalen