REMEMBERING: Cynthia Harvey on Anthony Dowell - an "Exclusive" for "attitude"!

Dec 6

Dec 6 REMEMBERING: Cynthia Harvey on Anthony Dowell - an "Exclusive" for "attitude"!

Today, I feel it is a must to remember these statements by Cynthia Harvey, given exclusively to “attitude” and published for the first time last March 15th. A very special day.

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Last February 16th, dear Sir Anthony Dowell celebrated his 78th Birthday. I asked lovely, brilliant Cynthia Harvey to write something about him for us. She did. And it turned to be more than just some “Birthday Wishes”. And that is the reason why it took me so long to publish it - I wanted it to have another kind of “treatment”. Yes. A beautiful statement that turned out to be a wonderful memento of such an important era in ballet history and so valuable for future generations! A testimony. A Statement I could not “edit” - it was important to keep it all together! And that is what this page is also all about: esteem, appreciation. Once a friend called me “Art’s guardian”. I like that and hope to continue doing my bit to keep our memories alive.

Thank you so much for this beautiful contribution, dear Cynthia!

“Hi Ricardo,

Here you go plus 3 photos by Martha Swope of Don Q circa 1979…
I could not write anything in brief. Sorry. You can extract and edit whatever it is you wish.
x Cynthia

“We all speak of the harmony, beauty of line, his control-his partnering, versatility and those eyes!

What people may not know is that Sir Anthony Dowell, has great humanity, humour and a big heart.

I was a newly promoted soloist when Anthony came to us at ABT as a guest. Nobody spoke to him. We were all in awe. One day I was at the notice board at the same time as him and feeling a bit low-he turned to me and spoke first, which I suspect was not easy for him. And he gave me a hug. That was it. From that moment, we would frequently meet for coffee in the old coffee shop under the studios-(where he noticed that I put a “bit of coffee in my sugar” ) and we laughed a great deal.

Fast forward, after a holiday lay off, in his second year with us at ABT, Don Quixote was to go at the MET and both Gelsey Kirkland and Natalia Makarova were injured. Anthony requested me. I had barely learned the ballet, but this was, in reality, my biggest role-my first full-length ballet and it was with HIM. Still a soloist, the idea that he would want me, was miraculous.

The entire process was fantastic owing to Anthony, his support, his commitment and his sense of fun.
He was able to make me (and all of us) laugh, and he taught me to take myself less seriously. I began to write little notes to him on my fan when dancing Kitri to see if he’d notice-and I believe he did. We kept each other sane. He started to request me in other ballets, Les Sylphides, and Swan Lake (which I turned down as I did not feel ready) and eventually we did the premiere of La Bayadere by Natalia Makarova together as well. He was such an enormous part of my growth as a young dancer and he supported me in my up and coming days.
I think that we worked well, not that I was even close to his level. He truly looked after and took care of me, and put his own ego to the side, which I believe is the essence of Sir Anthony. He knows his worth, but it’s his humanity and care that are his hallmarks to me.

I’m grateful to Anthony for giving me the opportunity to dance with my dream company, The Royal Ballet when he first took the directorship. To allow me this gift, gave me the privilege of working with Sir Frederic Ashton and Dame Ninette DeValois and dance repertoire that I would not have danced anywhere else and to meet people who have remained life-long friends.

I adore Anthony Dowell and miss him. I wish him well and send my love.

Cynthia”