Leland was promoted to principal dancer in 1972, just before City Ballet’s Stravinsky Festival, which opened with “Lost Sonata,” a pas de deux created by Balanchine for Leland and John Clifford. Robert Joffrey saw Leland perform with the company in 1959 and invited her to join the Joffrey Ballet. “Balanchine adored Sally,” said Richard Tanner, a former ballet master at City Ballet. He liked her personality, too, everything about her.”Soon after Leland began to take on rehearsal duties, Balanchine asked her to coach the principal ballerina roles in his ballets. Wendy Whelan, the associate artistic director of City Ballet, said that Leland made an indelible impression on several generations of dancers.

Source: bd News24 December 10, 2020 07:52 UTC