San Francisco Ballet -In Memory of Virginia "Ginny" Johnson 2011

This film is dedicated to the memory of Virginia "Ginny" Johnson, who passed away September 2011. She was a principal dancer for many years with the San Francisco Ballet and created many roles by choreographer Lew Christensen. She later became Ballet Mistress of the company. Using interviews of dancers who worked with her, and adding a musical blend of photos and rare film clips of her dancing, this film features a ballerina who dedicated her life's work to the San Francisco Ballet during the Christensen era, 1948 to 1973.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• San Francisco Ballet
• Virginia Johnson
• Lew Christensen
• ballet
• dance
• dancing
• David Coll
• Jocelyn Vollmar
• Carlos Carvajal
• Il Distratto
• Facets
• Nutcracker
• Gina Ness
• Tony Ness
• Christine Bering
• The Nutcracker
• Choreography

[Davidjcoll1]

We al miss her. I enjoyed dancing with her.

[isadoraduncan1011]

A mention was made of Shinju, thge Michael Smuin ballet about the double

suicide tradition of the Japanese puppet and kabuki theater. I don't recall that

Virginia Johnson had anything to do with it, unless she served as ballet mistress

for the production. Tony Ness had a role in it as I remember, although he was not involved in the premiere.

[Davidjcoll1]

@isadoraduncan1011 Each new speaker in the film was introduced with photos of their career, so the viewer could identify who was speaking, and was not used to associate Virginia with those photos. Tony Ness and Paula Tracy's picture in Smuin's ballet Shinju was used only to introduce Tony and his dancing as he first began to speak in the interview in the film. (note: Film's titles listed Carvajal incorrectly as Shinju's choreographer instead of Smuin).

[Edward245100]

A very nice tribute, but a dancer who smoked? How is that possible? Was that a common practice of dancers of your era?

[Davidjcoll1]

@Edward245100 Yes Edward, a common practice ...that was before cigarettes were banned from the media and cancer warning labels. Many dancers smoked in the 1950's and 1960's.

[gmadholmes]

Thank you all for this. I remember Ginny well, with lots of love. I think of her often when I am in a studio trying to teach dancers choreography. She was so devoted to passing on Lew's legacy with adoration and precision. She was one of a kind, a fantastic character and a beloved teacher to me. Thank you for this commemoration.

[AvalonMorley]

This tribute is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen on Youtube! To see someone remembered and celebrated so fondly, & then to share her w. the rest of us. Thank you!

[AvalonMorley]

@Edward245100 Even later generations, there were many dancers who smoked quite a bit. Sad. Guess they liked the energy rush (so short-lived, I'm told), & many (particularly females) felt without it they'd gain too much weight. Just crazy. But I've also worked w. opera singers--principals!--who smoked (in the '70s & '80s). If you know young folks who smoke, do whatever you can to get them to stop.;

[Terr58y]

@Edward245100 Yes, many dancers still do smoke; which is of course too bad.

[tdancer007]

Edward, a different era. As a dancer with Ginny, I had a "dresser" in the Opera House wings waiting for me with a smoke. OK me bad, yet was not the world we live in today. I always reduced or quit when I had a tough performance coming up. It was another day/world. We all got smarter as time passed. T

[EightballRus]

A wonderful tribute David. Wonderful to see Jocelyn Vollmar!

[EightballRus]

Many dancers still do.