Richard Cragun (1944-2012) was one of the first American ballet dancers to make a career in Europe, where he became famous for his partnership with Marcia Haydée at the Stuttgart Ballet. He was born in Sacramento, and began his training there in tap and ballet. After graduating from London’s Royal Ballet School in 1962, he was offered a contract in Stuttgart where he would remain for 34 years. He first appeared at the Pillow with Marcia Haydée in 1973, showcasing pas de deux from John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew. In 1982, he honored the Pillow’s 50th anniversary by recreating two iconic 1930s solos made famous by Barton Mumaw, and his rehearsals with Mumaw were documented in Ron Honsa’s award-winning documentary, The Men Who Danced. The performance seen here was Cragun’s final Pillow appearance, a memorial tribute to the dance writer Walter Terry who had died the previous year. Kenneth MacMillan created the work in memory of his friend, John Cranko.
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