REVERANCE Next Lifetime with Andrei Kramerevsky

 Andrei Kramerevsky Bolshoi 1960s and at SAB 2002

I will never forget my first day of company class with the Metropolitan Opera.  I felt like an idiot because I was among the first 5 contemporary dancers to ever be invited to dance at the Met.  All the other dancers were official ballerinas. And then there were the 5 “others”. 

To be fair the other 4 were graduates of Juilliard and other respected conservatories where they had plenty of ballet technique — a few were even ballet-turned-modern dancers. They knew the drill. 

I was the only one from a post-modern background where ballet was simply what you were supposed to do 2 times a week to pay your dues. Most in my dance program didn’t come to ballet class and would choose body awareness class instead. 

There were no serious corrections or talk of good feet and certainly there was nary a pointe shoe in sight! 

So enter myself in my socks in Kramerevsky’s class at The Met.   

Yes I was in socks.***

I also stood at the “wrong barre” and was told in no uncertain terms by a real Met Opera ballerina that her pointe shoe had made the dent in the floor my ill-clad feet were now hovering over. She actually said that. 💔

I was to move. 

Oops. 

And then of course out came Kramerevsky — with his Einsteinian hair and thick accent — I had no actual clue what he was saying. 

He was a furious teacher — with a lightening bolt energy that juxtaposed against his perceived age in a manner that had my mouth on the floor. It was as if his sheer will alone made his body move! 

“How did I get this job” was all I could think of.  I definitely thought they had made a mistake. 

Needless to say I think I attended company class a few more times and then I never went back. 

I realize now this was a terrible decision but the truth was I didn’t know anything about ballet at that time. Especially compared with the real ballerinas in the room. 

I accepted myself as a full-on post-modern-modern-dancer. Defined by the identity of a Pedestrian. I had accepted my lot and my love of ballet remained a secret — so I wasn’t about to out myself as a ballet fool for all to see. 

Its lovely now, in hindsight, to think back and wonder “what did Krammy think of me?”. 

But I can rest assured: he didn’t think a damn thing!!! I was barely present and even when I was there,  I was hiding in the corner.  I didn’t dare go across the floor. 

But he still made an impression I can never forget. 

And fast forward moons later when I finally accepted my love of ballet — it was partially the memory of his incredible energy with his shocking white hair that helped me realize that I wasn’t that old!! 

I still had time to learn! And maybe if I am lucky and worked hard I could be a passionate white haired woman teaching with great energy someday! 

Thank you Mr. Kramerevsky for giving me that inspiration. 

It would be an honor if you would join all of my heavenly angel coaches up there. 

If not, I sure hope I’ll see you next lifetime

————
Andrei Kramerevsky 1929-2019

More about Mr. Kramerevsky here 

***  I still secretly prefer socks to soft slippers which only constrict my already tiny feet.