IN MEMORIAM: WINTHROP COREY, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Classical Ballet of Mobile grieves the loss of our beloved Artistic Director Emeritus, Winthrop Corey. Incepted in 2017, by volunteers inspired by Winthrop Corey, Classical Ballet of Mobile ignites lasting love and appreciation for ballet through superb training, artistic excellence, and performance opportunities in Mobile as the living legacy of this master ballet instructor and choreographer. The leadership, faculty, and students of Classical Ballet of Mobile extend their most sincere condolences to Mr. Corey's family at this time of bereavement.
In 1987, Mr. Corey brought to Mobile a wealth of experience in the international world of dance that has henceforth edified the artistic acumen of the entire Gulf Coast. His genius of ballet education, choreography, costuming, and coaching has fueled the careers of dozens of international professional ballet and musical theatre dancers. His motivational molding of young dancers has left an indelible impression upon innumerable dancers in Mobile and throughout the world
Prior to his Artistic Directorship at Classical Ballet of Mobile, Mr. Corey held the distinction of having been a principal dancer with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet as well as The National Ballet of Canada. As a recipient of a Ford Foundation scholarship, he trained with the National Ballet in Washington, D.C., and also studied with noted ballet teachers lgor Schwetzoff and Maria Swoboda in New York. And in Canada, he further trained with famed ballet instructors, Vera Volkova, Daniel Sellier, and Danish danseur, choreographer, artistic director, actor, and author, Erik Bruhn.
He was known for his classical roles including the Prince in The Nutcracker, Prince Sigfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, Franz in Coppelia, the Prince in Cinderella, and Prince Florimund and the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty. He also danced in a special role of Diamond Variation in The Sleeping Beauty, which was created for him by his generation's greatest male ballet danseur and choreographer, Rudolph Nureyev. Mr. Corey also is noted for dancing opposite Nureyev in Jose Limon's classic work, The Moor's Pavane.
Mr. Corey made numerous guest appearances nationally and internationally. Partnering Joffrey Ballet's Francesca Corkle, he danced at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, where their performance was termed by The New York Times as "the most perfect of the Don Quixote Pas De Deux." Time Magazine stated "Winthrop Corey teamed with Nureyev in a chillingly effective performance of The Moor's Pavane," while Clive Barnes of The New York Times added, "[Corey was] excellent in every way...a performance with style and authority."
In addition to his skill as a dancer, Mr. Corey's choreographic accomplishments include full-length productions of The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet. He also created ballets for the operas Faust, Aida, Carmina Burana, Turandot, and Der Fledermaus, as well as numerous contemporary repertoire works, such as Seppuku, Huapango, Meine Himmel, Variations on Purcell, and Tribute to J. H.C.
His original full-length productions include Dracula, Snow White, and A Streetcar Named Desire for which he was awarded a Dance Fellowship by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Mr. Corey is also well known for his design and construction of the classical tutu through his company, Winthrop Corey Designs, having designed classical costuming for ballets in both the United States and Canada.
In 1977, Corey founded and was Artistic Director of the Festival Ballet in Providence, Rhode Island. He directed his own school, the Dance Academy, and also was a guest teacher for Brown University, Rhode Island College, the Boston Dance Teachers Club, the Professional Dance Teachers Association in New York, and George Brown College in Toronto, Canada.
In addition to his work as Artistic Director, Mr. Corey was a longtime Summer Faculty member of Joffrey School in New York and more recently, American Ballet Theatre.
During his short but treasured tenure with Classical Ballet of Mobile, Mr. Corey left an enduring legacy. Exceptional ballet exists in this city because of Winthrop Corey. Classical Ballet of Mobile is honored to carry his torch and lead the next generation of classical, conservative, character-building dancers in our community.
In celebration of Mr. Corey's life, Classical Ballet of Mobile will humbly host a memorial tribute this June. Our "Dance Dans le Jardin" production May 20th at Murphy High School's auditorium will be dedicated to our irreplaceable Artistic Director Emeritus, Winthrop Corey. Tickets are available in advance at classicalballetmobile.org.