20-588: Richard Cragun (5 October 1944 – 6 August 2012) was an American ballet dancer, teacher and ballet director who performed with the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany from 1965 to 1996. Cragun has been called a "prince of the ballet world" and "one of the most important dancers of the twentieth century." Born in Sacramento, California, Cragun was one three sons. His father was a college librarian As
40-484: A child, he was very interested in both music and dance. At age five, he began taking tap dance lessons . A few years later, Cragun decided to become a professional dancer after his father took him to see Singin' in the Rain (1952),. Donald O'Connor , one of the stars of the film, became Cragun's "first, absolute idol." Inspired to emulate O'Connor's lyrical, balletic style of tap dancing, Cragun took ballet classes As
60-764: A relationship with Brazilian choreographer Roberto de Oliveira that lasted until Cragun's death. In his later years with the Stuttgart Ballet, Cragun became one of the company's ballet masters . After finishing his dancing career, he became the ballet director of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. In 1999, after three unhappy years at the Deutsche Oper, he left the position. With Haydée's encouragement, Cragun and de Oliveira moved to Brazil, where they launched DeAnima Ballet Contemporáneo for youngsters from
80-466: A seizure triggered by a lung infection. He was admitted to a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he died soon after. A friend gave this report of Cragun's funeral: "The most moving moment at yesterday's cremation ceremony in Rio came when the flower-covered coffin began to move away, and Richard's friends and admirers, led by Marcia Haydée, stood, applauded, and cried out 'Bravo', as they had so many times at
100-787: A teenager, Cragun received a scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta. He studied there with Betty Farraly and Gweneth Lloyd . When Alexander Grant , was visiting Banff, he was impressed by Cragun's skills. He suggested Cragun apply to the Royal Ballet School in London. Cragun spent one year at the Royal Ballet school, working with Errol Addison and Harold Turner . At age 17, Cragun went to Copenhagen, Denmark, to privately train with Vera Volkova , who
120-497: Is an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company. In modern times, ballet masters are generally charged with teaching the daily company ballet class and rehearsing the dancers for both new and established ballets in the company's repertoire. The artistic director of a ballet company, whether a male or female, may also be called its ballet master. Historic use of gender marking in job titles in ballet (and live theatre)
140-453: Is being supplanted by gender-neutral language job titles regardless of an employee's gender (e.g. ballet master in lieu of ballet mistress , wig master as an alternative to wig mistress ). Especially during the early centuries of ballet troupes and ballet companies from the 18th century until the early 20th century, the position of first ballet master, referred to traditionally as the premier maître de ballet en chef or more simply as
160-652: The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 1981. More than 25 years James Tuggle was the principal conductor of the Stuttgart Ballet. From 2019 through 2021 Mikhail Agrest was principal conductor. The ballet's school is the John Cranko Schule [ de ] . Ballet master A ballet master (also balletmaster , ballet mistress , premier maître de ballet or premier maître de ballet en chef )
180-566: The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 1981. The Stuttgart Ballet evolved from the court ballet of the Duke of Württemberg , dating back to 1609. The modern company was founded and shaped from 1961 by the South African born British dancer John Cranko "into a group with an exciting and visually arresting style". He created full-length narrative ballets including Romeo and Juliet , Onegin and The Taming of
200-406: The maître de ballet , was the undisputed head of the company who acted as chief choreographer and artistic director . His duties included creating ballets, dances in operas, commissioning music, and presiding over the teaching of the dancers and style desired. It was this head ballet master who had the responsibility of the artistic directorship of a particular group of dancers or of a theatre. Since
220-932: The Shrew , John Neumeier created for the company Die Kameliendame and A Streetcar Named Desire . The first tour to the US in 1969 resulted in international fame. Dancers who have emerged from the company became well-known choreographers , including Neumeier, William Forsythe , Foofwa d'Imobilité , Uwe Scholz , Jiří Kylián and Renato Zanella . Cranko was succeeded by as director by Glen Tetley (1974–1976) and Marcia Haydée (1976–1996) and then Reid Anderson (1996-present). The choreologist Georgette Tsinguirides has recorded all major ballets by Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan in Benesh Movement Notation and has been teaching these works to several generations of ballet companies internationally. The company received
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#1732790419451240-715: The Shrew . Their professional partnership at the Stuttgart Ballet lasted from 1965 until Cragun's retirement in 1996. Besides his appearances with leading companies in Germany, Cragun danced in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Sweden, Italy, Canada, the United States, and Japan. In 1990, during the Stuttgart revival of the Broadway musical On Your Toes , Cragun exhibited his tap dancing skills. Cragun
260-446: The Shrew . "Cragun was a strikingly handsome Petruchio, by turns self-mocking, overbearing, funny, and tender. The role suited his robustly masculine and charismatic stage personality and provided a first-class showcase for his virtuosity and partnering skills. No dancer has equaled him in the role." In the course of his long career, Cragun created many roles in the ballets of John Cranko and other European choreographers. Among them are
280-445: The black favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Cragun also became ballet director at the city's Teatro Municipal , where, he managed a company of 70 dancers and staged works from the Stuttgart repertory. A talented cartoonist, Cragun also mounted several exhibitions of his work in art galleries and other venues in the city. In 2005, Cragun suffered a stroke . His poor health was compounded by having HIV/AIDS . On 6 August 2012, Cragun suffered
300-455: The early 20th century, primarily after the disbandment of the original Ballets Russes , the title has been used more to describe the master teachers/assistant directors of a ballet company, (previously known as second ballet master), with the head of a company being referred to as the artistic director. In recent years, companies have quietly begun to change the title's name given its hierarchical and dominating connotations. They have switched
320-402: The end of his magnificent performances. It was a spontaneous and appropriate ovation and send-off. Richard deserved no less." Stuttgart Ballet Stuttgart Ballet is a leading German ballet company. Dating back to 1609, then the court ballet of the dukes of Württemberg , the modern company was founded by John Cranko and is known for full-length narrative ballets. The company received
340-411: The following. Cragun and Haydée shared a romantic relationship and lived together for 16 years. The relationship broke up in 1977 when Cragun realized that he was a gay man. However the two remained friends and colleagues. Haydée bore him no resentment. "Richard was one of the best dancers in the world", she said. "Even after our separation, we were the best of friends." In later years, Cragun entered
360-448: Was described as a big, handsome man, with a powerful physique who danced with dazzling virtuosity and distinct virility, a perfect foil for the brilliant technique and delicate femininity of Haydée. Another description said that Cragun was blessed with a perfect physique for dancing, Cragun was a virtuoso of the ballet stage, equaled by only a few male dancers of his generation. He embodied the explosive, colorful form of classical ballet that
380-427: Was responsible for polishing his remarkable classical technique. In 1962, Volkova recommended Cragun to John Cranko , director of the Stuttgart Ballet. Cranko hired him sight unseen, as a member of his corps de ballet . In 1965, soon after his appointment as principal dancer in Stuttgart, he began his dance partnership with Marcia Haydée . Cragun and Haydée performed Swan Lake , Onegin and The Taming of
400-601: Was sometimes called "the Stuttgart style." Flawless triple tours en l'air were his trademark, an athletic feat accomplished only by such bravura dancers as Edward Villella and Mikhail Baryshnikov on rare occasions. Clive Barnes , dance critic for The New York Times , wrote, "He possesses tremendous elevation. There is a cumulative pulse and rhythmic beat to his dancing that is enormously impressive." He won high praise for his performances in principal roles in Cranko's Romeo und Julia , Onegin , and, especially, The Taming of
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