The Winger » Photos just don’t do her justice

Photos just don’t do her justice

June 25, 2007 at 10:21 pm · Filed under backstage, dance, new york city ballet, stage, kyra nichols, charles askegard, philip neal, retirement

Posted by Kristin Sloan

After seeing David’s beautiful photos of Alessandra Ferri’s farewell performance, I thought maybe I should post a few of our (NYC Ballet’s) “hometown” hero. I was busy videotaping the evening’s performance, so I’ve included a few screenshots from some of my footage.

Kyra Nichols has always been one of my favorites. I only wish I could have seen her in Spring from Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons and in the pas de deux from In G Major again! She looks as if she could keep dancing forever. Kyra, we will miss you!

With Charles Askegard in Davidsbündlertänze.

Just before the ending of Balanchine’s Serenade.

Before stepping on stage for Vienna.

Ms. Nichols with Philip Neal in The Last Waltz from Balanchine’s Vienna Waltzes

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Sarah said,

June 25, 2007 @ 10:26 pm

WOW. These photos are amazing!

Friday was an amazing night to be at NYCB. Kyra will be sorely missed. The opening of Serenade, which is always a moving one, was that much more touching. The end of Serenade, from the point that Kyra hugged/hung onto Gwyneth to the end, had me crying. By the end of the night, especially seeing Kyra on the stage with her adorable sons, I was smiling through the tears although I completely lost it when Damian got down on his knees with his bouquet of flowers… what a beautiful gesture. I was also moved by how long the company cheered for Kyra and how supportive the audience was, as well they should have been!

Kyra has spent my entire life as a principal dancer at NYCB and I am proud to have seen her dance so beautifully for so long.

She will be terribly missed.

tonya said,

June 25, 2007 @ 10:49 pm

These pictures are breathtaking. Especially the last two! — and the one with Charles as well because it’s such a great vantage point. This was my first time seeing Serenade and it nearly made me cry, especially at the end.

Did you read Terry Teachout’s blog post about Friday night? http://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight/2007/06/tt_sunset.html
It’s so poetic; it’s beautiful!

It seems to me that so many of the writers and critics and people who’ve been around to see it all are so upset, even devastated in a way, because she really IS Balanchine to them. I’m so sad because I feel like I became a fan of NYCB so late in her career that I missed out on an era.

Philip said,

June 26, 2007 @ 12:01 am

These are beautiful & moving photos, Kristin, and thank you so much for putting them here. The overhead shot of her with Charles is incredible! The end of SERENADE - that picture me makes me feel like crying…again! And Kyra & Philip: what a great partnership and I’m glad you mentioned IN G MAJOR which was one of their classics.

After her second son was born everyone said she wouldn’t come back. I’m really grateful that she did.

miki said,

June 26, 2007 @ 1:06 am

Wordless. Those pictures are beautiful. Did you take those from cat walk?
I am so sorry to miss her last performance, that MGDC had a performance in New Haven that night. I keep forgetting my camera to take pictures ( I don’t know how to down load pictures from cell phone to computer yet) … I will try ..

Ms. V said,

June 26, 2007 @ 4:23 am

what a way with the camera you have! i’ll never forget getting tickets from a customer in a restaurant i worked in years ago ( who gave them to me like knicks tickets) and getting to see her dance. i was so excited and inspired. her dancing will never be retired………..

Bob said,

June 26, 2007 @ 4:28 am

Fabulous pictures! What an emotional evening that was - tears come to my eyes just thinking about it. I began attending NYCB performances in the late 70s and so I had the good fortune to see Kyra dance throughout almost her entire career. She was and is one of the greatest ballerinas in the world and I will always treasure my many memories of her glorious dancing. And yes, her Spring in the Four Seasons was one of my special favorites!

Ed said,

June 26, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

Friday night was not a City Ballet subscription performance, therefore one assumes that the majority of the audience were her fans. She will be missed.

Laurel S. said,

June 28, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

Absolutely amazing photos! You really captured the elegance and poignancy of Ms. Nichols. Thank you for sharing them- did you say video is forthcoming?

Paulette Wellington said,

July 9, 2007 @ 2:04 am

Thank you for the lovely photos.

I grew up with Kyra in Kensington and we were friends from 3rd grade up until she left for NYC in 1974.
Took classes from her mom Sally Streets - one could tell Kyra was preparing for a very important life in dance even back then when we were just little squirts in grade school.
Wish I could have seen her dance but never made it to NYC when she was performing.

She is so incredible - and those in school said she’d never amount to much - what fools!

thewinger.com » Ms. Kyra Nichols said,

February 9, 2008 @ 10:54 pm

[…] This past summer I had the wonderful opportunity of shooting a sort of documentary-style piece on Kyra’s retirement from 33 years at New York City Ballet (that’s where the photo above is from). It was such a fun experience getting to shoot her dancing, and also getting to talk to her about her life and career. She is definitely an incredible role model for aspiring dancers, enjoying an amazing career and a wonderful family. […]

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