Summary |
Rex Reid, a ballet dancer and choreographer, talks about Natasha Kirsta, ballet school administrator. He summarises Kirsta's early life in Russia before and during the 1917 Revolution. Her life in Vienna is discussed, including her life with second husband George Kirsta and friends Victor Gsovsky, George Balanchine and Tamara Geva. Reid discusses Kirsta's move to Berlin to direct Gsovsky's ballet school and Kirsta's establishment of a ballet company with Gsovsky called Ballet Kirsta, members of which included Lesley Caron, Brigitte Bardot and Roland Petit. Kirsta's friendship with Jean Cocteau and Misha Sert is discussed. Reid discusses Kirsta's move to Australia and her friendships with the Stravinskys, Arthur Rubinstein, Richard Meale, Marlene Dietrich, Abby Simon, Lila Kedrova and Yul Brynner. Kirsta's influence on Barry Moreland and Les Sinclair is discussed, as is Kirsta's admiration for Reid. Reid discusses Kirsta's love of Australia, her pride in becoming an Australian citizen, and her close friendships with Kathleen Gorham, Ann Church, John Gielgud, Phillip Jones, Barry Reid, Nadia Nerina and Rudolf Nureyev. Natasha's knowledge of art, ballet, ballet history, music knowledge and talent for painting is discussed. Reid comments on her friendship with Katia, Ludmilla and Luba Crassine and the vast amount of correspondence Kirsta kept. He highlights Kirsta's influence on his dance studio in Adelaide, her brilliant business skills and her influence on young dancers. He recalls that many people were nervous of Kirsta and did not understand her, citing Peggy Van Praagh as an example. Reid then discusses the lead up to Kirsta's death, the circumstances surrounding Kirsta's death and the people he notified, including Lila Kedrova and Marcel Marceau who were great friends of Natasha Kirsta.
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