Where Are They Now: Edward Villella

Edward Villella (Eddie, Guiding Light)

Source: Vail Daily

Vail dance: Up Close with Edward Villella

Villella is an American dance icon and artistic director of the Miami City Ballet,

Vail Daily staff report
newsroom@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado
Sunday, August 2, 2009

BEAVER CREEK — For all of us who think that ESPN's SportsCenter is the epicenter of world news and events, the idea of cross training is nothing new. Football players take ballet classes to help improve their footwork for routes over the middle.

But what about an aspiring ballet dancer that not only letters in baseball, but enters the boxing ring and becomes a Golden Gloves welterweight champion before heading back to the barre? Would this be considered cross training?

Such is part of the story of Edward Villella, one of America's greatest dance heroes, whose career will be celebrated Monday in a special UpClose evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek.

The UpClose evening will not only examine his career, but will include performances and on stage rehearsal looks at the many works created for and made famous by Villella, including masterpieces by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.

Joining Villella and Dance Festival Director Damian Woetzel for this special evening will be members of Villella's Miami City Ballet, along with special guest stars Ethan Stiefel and Robert Fairchild. Performance pieces will include an excerpt from Balanchine's “Rubies,” along with a behind-the-scenes look at selections from the company's debut performance, which took place Saturday evening at the Ford Amphitheater.

Following his college years at the New York Maritime Academy, as well as his time on the diamond and in the ring, Villella was destined to prove that a tough brash kid out of Bayside, New York could turn into a major artist, and in doing so, change the way men danced in America as well as the way male dancers were perceived.

Villella danced at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy, and also performed for Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. In 1975, he won an Emmy Award for his CBS television production of “Harlequinade.” He also used his many television appearances to bring ballet to a more mainstream audience, including star turns on the “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Odd Couple” and even the soap opera “Guiding Light.”

In 1997, he was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.

While boxing may not necessarily be the cross training method of choice for all aspiring dancers, it's probably a safe bet that you shouldn't mess with Villella.

Tickets for the Monday's UpClose evening with Villella are priced at $45 and $55 at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for all performances of the 2009 Vail International Dance Festival are available online at www.vaildance.org or by phone at either 970-845-TIXS (8497) or 888-920-ARTS (2787).

If you go ...

What: UpClose with Edward Villella
Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday
Cost: $45/$55 depending on seating
More information: www.vaildance.org or call 970-845-TIXS