Lament for Nureyev’s last dance coach
NewsThe British ballerina and dance coach Patricia Ruanne died yesterday at the age of 77.
Leeds born and London trained, after retiring from the stage in 1983 she became ballet mistress at London Festival Ballet, before joining Rudolf Nureyev at Paris Opera Ballet from 1986 to 1996. Later, she taught at La Scala, often with her husband Frederick Jahn.
The former Paris star Manuel Legris, now head of ballet at La Scala, has written this reminiscence:
‘For ten years I worked next to her every day, facing at her side all the ballets in the repertoire, six hours a day and more; being able to compare ballets and roles with her was precious. Unique in its way, for the extraordinary intelligence and for stage knowledge that she transmitted to me not only in the technical work, but, perhaps above all, in the delicate mechanism of immediacy in a role, to truly live it. And to hear it on a total and theatrical level. With strictness, great knowledge and experience, and great willingness, she was the teacher who followed me the most closely and made me become who I am. Unforgettable. So much so that in Vienna, I became director of the Company, I wanted to invite her to curate the re-run of L’historie de Manon, to renew our collaboration and to continue this important transmission of knowledge.’
I was entranced by her back in the 70s when she danced with London Festival Ballet. She was a great artist and an inspiration to many
I remember her from Royal Ballet days. RIP.
I watch her over and over in the DVDs about Nureyev’s ballets. She was endlessly informative and fascinating – and funny!
Patricia Ruanne was always a great supporter of Nureyev too, she had partnered him in the past. So sad she has died a great figure in the world of ballet.
Although Nureyev was the director of the Paris Ballet for a couple of years he was so busy with other project that he did not spend a lot of time there and eventually was fired because the staff and dancers complained that he was not there enough. However he did delegate to some very competent people.