The Loss of a Legend: Remembering Yvonne Mounsey

Yvonne Mounsey and Francisco Moncion in the Prodigal Son
Yvonne Mounsey was a shining light in this world that no one will ever be able to replace.  To audiences and critiques, she was a statuesque, glamorous presence that oozed sensuality and joy.  To her more than 40-years' worth of students, she was a ball of positive energy--quick to alert you when you weren't executing your technique just right, but even quicker to assure you that you were on the right track.
I began taking lessons at Yvonne's Westside School of Ballet (Co-owned and operated with Rosemary Valaire--another irreplaceable human being) in the early 1990s. At that age, I recall being in awe of Yvonne.  She had a presence that intimidated, but drew you in--the sort of presence that only a true matriarch could exude.  She would come in and watch our rehearsals with great interest a sparkle in her eye that made even the most uncoordinated eight-year-old want to perk up and dance their absolute best.
Rosemary, Me, and Yvonne
At the time I was enrolled at the school, Rosemary headed up the Intermediate levels, while Yvonne mainly looked after the advanced students.  One didn't make it to Yvonne's class without withstanding the technical rigors of Rosemary's classes, which were made all the more formidable due to Rosemary's beautifully quiet and sensible nature.  I've never met a woman who chose her words more carefully than Rosemary.  She had us on the edge of our ballet slippers, eagerly awaiting the ballet knowledge she possessed to escape her lips. As I progressed through the school, Yvonne, for whatever reason took a liking to me, which, like any  truly diplomatic teacher, she shared more in private moments rather than in the presence of other students.  She became practically a surrogate Grandmother to me, for it was her and Rosemary I was afraid I would disappoint even before my own lovely family.  It should be noted, that these two women looked after EVERY student as if they were grandchildren--each one of us were given the gifts of discipline, integrity, fairness, and grace--almost like Princess Aurora having gifts bestowed upon her by the fairies in Act I of The Sleeping Beauty.  They knew that we would carry these qualities with us out into the world, regardless of whether we were stage-bound or not.
Yvonne teaching the Advanced Students
I recall well, Rosemary and Yvonne's coaching--starting with Clara in The Nutcracker.  They had a way of really making the studio a safe place to delve into that world of make-believe, making sure that we had countless opportunities to practice our acting in ballet mime classes and in rehearsals.   After Rosemary's passing, Yvonne continued that magic--with the wonderful help of fantastic teachers--some of whom were alumna of the school.  Yvonne was an incredible judge of character and that is made apparent in the individuals she entrusted with our education in-between our lessons with her.  Some of my favorite moments with her were just rehearsing with her in the studio.  I lived for those afternoons spent rehearsing with her--whether it was Stars & Stripes, Tarantella, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, her own Classical Symphony, or as Swanhilda in Coppelia--my very last performance with Westside Ballet.
Me as The Sugar Plum Fairy
It is because of her that I had a professional dance career--without a doubt.  She convinced me it was possible and I never doubted her judgement--the woman was always right.  One other gift she gave to me was the opportunity to teach classes before I left her school.  At the time, I didn't know how much this would change my life, but it has.  I now teach dance classes almost every day.  This week, I find myself a bit changed as a teacher:  I am inspired, more active--I have used words less, but communication more--for one thing I have learned is that if she could do it at 93 years of age, I better not disappoint her before I'm even a third of the way there!  I can just hear her voice uttering my name like a child who has just been caught doing something they oughtn't--and I never want to forget it.


N.Y. Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/arts/dance/yvonne-mounsey-city-ballet-dancer-and-a-teacher-dies-at-93.html?ref=obituaries&_r=0
L.A. Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-yvonne-mounsey-20121003,0,6481265.story


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