In Memoriam: Michael Ballard (Podolski)
July 17, 1942–November 10, 1991
Much loved and admired, Michael Ballard, who danced with both Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais companies in the 1970s and early 1980s, passed away at age 49 on November 10, 1991 in St. Louis. In 1984 he moved to St. Louis to teach modern dance technique and choreography as an assistant professor at Washington University. He danced and choreographed there for the Washington University Dance Theater, the St. Louis Repertory Dancers and the St. Louis Dancers, for whom he staged Murray Louis’s Bach Suite and excerpts from other pieces.
Fellow Louis company dancer Janis Brenner called Michael “our calm in the midst of any storm, and such an elegant, articulate dancer and giving partner.” He was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine in 1975 and co-authored with Kitty Cunningham the book Conversations with a Dancer in 1980.
Additional tributes and remembrances of Michael can be added to this page and may be sent to Jim Van Abbema. Obituaries Washington University Record, December 5, 1991, Dance Professor Michael Podolski dies (PDF) St.-Louis Post-Dispatch, November 12, 1991, Michael Ballard Podolski, 49; Dancer (PDF) New York Times, November 16, 1991, by Jennifer Dunning, Michael Ballard, A Nikolais Dancer And Teacher, 49 (PDF)
(from the Times Archive)
A Tribute from Norman Ader
Norman Ader Photo: Tom Caravaglia
It is very difficult for me to put into words what a wonderful life Michael and I shared together for 24 years. To be able to see him fulfill himself as an incredible dancer, artist and performer, and for me, to be able to watch the hundreds of performances, starting at the Henry Street Playhouse with Nik in 1968 was a dream come true. Traveling all over the world I was able to be in the audience as well as backstage, with such a wonderful company of dancers as well as with Murray. I feel very blessed.
While teaching and living in St. Louis at Washington University, Michael became ill. He never once complained about his illness or problems he was having, except for the loss of weight and a cough. He was more worried that his students and friends would be concerned about him.
Michael loved classical music, especially Mahler. In September 1991 the St. Louis Symphony performed Mahler’s Second Symphony, Resurrection, in Washington University’s Powell Hall. It was a piece Michael always wanted to hear done live (he described the finale to me as dying and going to heaven!).
That night I will always remember. During the finale (which is truly glorious!), I looked over at him; the tears were running down his face! That seems like yesterday!
A month later he would leave us. He had been at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis for two weeks. On November 9th, the last night that I would see him, he said, “Go home and get some rest.” He asked me to give him a hug, and then he asked me to do something he never did before, to please close the curtains in his room; it was if to say, “The performance is over.”
A Video Tribute
Memorial gatherings were held on December 2 in the Edison Theater at Washington University, St. Louis, and at the apartment of Kitty and Dick Cunningham in New York City on December 15. At these gatherings the video below was shown of Michael performing in a number of Murray Louis Dance Company works, The video features excerpts from Caligraph for Martyrs, Shubert, Hoopla, Geometrics, Personnae, Stutgart Suite, Index (to Necessary Neuroses), Head and Hand Improvisation (from the film series Dance as an Art Form), Continuum, and Proximities.
Tributes and Remembrances
A Tribute from Janis BrennerCollage of Michael and Janis in the works of Murray Louis:Glances, November Dances, Cleopatra, and Stravinsky Montage
In honor and remembrance of December 1st, World AIDS Day... and in memory of Michael Ballard, my main dance partner for six years in the Murray Louis Dance Company and afterward for several seasons in St. Louis. Michael was our dance captain, our calm in the midst of any storm, and such an elegant, articulate dancer and giving partner. He danced with Nikolais Dance Theater before MLDC, was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, and co-authored the book Conversations with a Dancer with Kitty Cunningham in 1980. We lost him in late 1991, at age 49. To All The Precious Lives Lost, we honor you and will never forget. Click image to englarge.
From Helen Kent Nicoll:
The photos on [Michael’s] Memorial Page brought me back to that glorious era, in what feels like a lifetime ago (it was 50+ years ago!). When I joined the company in 1970 I had three weeks to learn repertory. We had a dress rehearsal before leaving on a 10-week tour, and Michael took one look at my make-up (I knew nothing about stage make-up) and marched me into the bathroom to wash my face. In his gentle yet disapproving manner he proceeded to give me a tutorial on basics. I can hear his voice now.
P.S. Norman: Thanks for posting your thoughts and photos. I never saw the two you took of Michael and me in that gorgeous Cleopatra Duet.
Selected Photos and videos from the Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance Compies
Unless otherwise noted, images are publicity photos of the Nikolais/Louis organization (then known as Chimera Foundation for Dance).
Michael’s Role as Scheherezade
Murray Louis cast Michael as the sensuous dreamer Scheherezade, the central role in his new work that premiered on January 18, 1974 at Butler University in Indianapollis, Indiana. Two years later, Michael was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, with an extenive interview with Kitty Cunningham, which was excerpted from Conversations with a Dancer, co-authored by Michael and Kitty. later published in 1980.
Original photos for Dance Magazine by Norman Ader
Sheherezade Photos by Norman Ader
A slide show from Michael’s Sheherezade solo
Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre’s Tent (1968)
After a month-long period of choreography and rehearsal at the University of South Florida, Tent premiered at the University Theatre on July 5, 1968. It soon became one of Nikolais’s seminal works, performed throughout the United States and abroad.
This video was produced in the studio of Zweite Deutsche Fernsehn (ZDF) in Munich, Germany in 1969.
Dancers are Murray Louis, Phyllis Lamhut, Carolyn Carlson, Gale Ormiston, Wanda Pruska, Robert Solomon, Sara Shelton, Michael Ballard, Emery Hermans, and Jeanette Stoner.
Tech crew: Jon Garness, George Gracey, and Jim Van Abbema.
Proximities (1969)
Marcia Wardell, Les Ditson, Helen Kent, Murray Louis, Anne McLeod, and Michael Ballard
Personnae (1971) Left photo: Leslie Ditson, Murray Louis, Anne McLeod, Michael Ballard; Right photo: Leslie, Michael, Anne, Murray
Continuum (1971) Left: Murray Louis, Helen Kent, Michael Ballard, Robert Small; Right: Anne McCleod, Leslie Ditson, Marcia Wardell
Michael Ballard in Continuum (1971) Photo: Jack Mitchell
The Murray Louis Dance Company (1971)
Anne McLeod, Robert Small, Marcia Wardell, Hellen Kent, Murray Louis, Michael Ballard, and Leslie Ditson Photo: David Shaw
Hoopla (1972)
Anne McLeod, Michael Ballard, and Marcia Wardell
Hoopla (1972)
Michael Ballard as the Ring Master
Index to Necessary Neurosis (1973)
Michael Ballard, Anne McLeod, Richard Haisma, Helen Kent, Marcia Wardell, and Robert Small
Michael Ballard in Porcelain Dialogues (1974) Photo: Jack Mitchell
Porcelain Diaglogues (1974)
Featured: Helen Kent and Michael Ballard ~ Photo: Tom Caravaglia
Porcelain Diaglogues (1974)
Marcia Wardell, Anne McLeod, Robert Small, Helen Kent, Michael Ballard, and Jerry Pearson
Porcelain Diaglogues (1974) Standing: Robert Small, Richard Haisma, and Helen Kent; Front: Anne McLeod, Michael Ballard, and Marcia Wardell
Geometrics (1974)
Michael Ballard & Betsy Fisher, Rob McWilliams & Anne McLeod,
Dan Shapiro & Janis Brenner, Don Prosch & Joanie Smith
Glances (1976) rehearsal
Robert Small and Michael Ballard
Glances (1976)
Sara Pearson, Michael Ballard, and Helen Kent
Glances (1976)
Michael Ballard and Janis Brenner ~ Photo: Otto Berk
Glances (1976)
Janis Brenner, Michael Ballard, Bill Holahan, Dianne Markham, Danial Shapiro, and Robert Small
Glances (1976, TV film)
Michael Ballard, Bill Holahan, Helen Kent, Dianne Markham,
Anne McLeod, Jerry Pearson, Sara Pearson, and Robert Small Music by Dave Brubeck
Duet from Cleopatra (1976)
Helen Kent and Michael Ballard
Duet from Cleopatra (1976)
Michael Ballard and Helen Kent
Schubert (1977)
Anne McLeod and Michael Ballard
Schubert (1977)
Dianne Markham, Bill Holahan, Michael Ballard, Sara Pearson, Janis Brenner, and Robert Small
Figura (1978)
Danial Shapiro, Janis Brenner, Anne McLeod, and Michael Ballard ~ Photo: Otto Berk
November Dances (1980)
Janis Brenner and Michael Ballard ~ Photo: Otto Berk
A Stravinsky Montage (1982)
Janis Brenner and Michael Ballard ~ Photo: Tom Caravaglia
Images from “Tango — Pasodoble” from Facade I Facade I premiered at the Edison Theatre, Washington University, St Loius, April 14, !984.
It was choreographed by long-time Performing Arts Department Professor Annelese Mertz
(pictured center) and performed by Suzanne Grace and Michael Ballard. Photos by Washington University Department of Performing Arts
Annelise Mertz and Michael ~ Photo by Norman Ader
Robert Small, Annelise, and Michael ~ Photo by Norman Ader
Snaphots of Michael and Norman on the Road Photos by Norman Ader
Airport in Munich 1987
A royal courtyard in Paris
Beach in South Hampton, Long Island, 1970s
Great Lawn for a concert in Central Park, 1970s
Pizza restaurant in Venice, 1987
Englischer Garten in Munich, 1969
Conversations with a Dancer
By Kitty Cunnngham and Michael Ballard
Original photo by Norman Ader
Though the Murray Louis Dance Company toured extensively in the mid-70s when Cunnigham conducted the interviews, she indicated that one had to catch them where one could find them.
The conversations began at the Royal Motor Inn in Moscow, Idaho on Easter 1975, and resumed under the hot sun of a Berkshire July in Massachusetts, and continued still later in a cemetery in Saratoga Springs, New York.
The company was in Moscow to teach and perform at the Northwest Dance Symposium at the University of Idaho, and at Jacob‘s Pillow and Saratoga to perform. The final result of the conversations was this book, published on Janurary 1, 1980.
The book is available on Amazon.
