First there was Maya Plisetskaya at eighty.
Then the other day I came across some recent photos of the dancers Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder. I’d completely forgotten about them—although I saw both perform long ago—and to be honest I was surprised that they were still alive (although it turns out I thought they were even older by now than they actually are—80 and 81, respectively).
The couple has been married for 56 years, no mean feat. She is still (actually, they are still) as elegant as ever, and she especially seems to have held on to the aspect of youth. In almost all her recent photos, De Lavallade is wearing black or red or both (note to self: get a signature color to stick to as you get older!) and very dramatic jewelry.
Here’s a panel discussion with De Lavallade (recorded in July of 2011) that gives you an idea of how youthful her affect still is. Yes, keeping in shape through exercise is part of her secret, not to mention the fact that the sun is kinder to brunettes and black people than it is to the more light of skin. But I think the most important aspect is the je ne sais quoi of attitude (note those earrings!):
The following gives you an idea of De Lavallade when she was young in actuality and not just in spirit, and of the genesis of the Holder/Lavallade romance (he proposed four days after they met, but it took her a whole month to say “yes”—and oh yeah, Holder’s on the tape, too):
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
October 22nd, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Carmen de Lavallade is an extraordinarily gracious soul. A beautiful person, inside and out. Supremely delicate and remarkably strong all at the same time. A child like being and a warrior all combined. Thanks so much for sharing this!
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Dang. She seems like woman of 60 or so in the interview. Obvious energy and passion still flowing through her being. A life of dedication to exercise and taking care of oneself can do wonders, but Carmen has such a zest for what she does and her life. It’s a marvelous thing. Oh, that we all could have that magic combination coursing through our veins.
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Jeffery Holder….not being much of a dance afficianado (am I even close on the spelling?) I remember him from 7-Up commercials in the late 60′s or early 70′s (“These…are cola nuts….”). He was also in the James Bond film, “Live and Let Die”, I think.
Had no idea he was still alive.
October 22nd, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Dear Jean,
You should know – it isn’t attitude but the relinquishing of what most of us would call a life.
Years ago David Susskind had two New York City Ballet dancers on his show who were married. They said that if they wanted to have any kind of a relationship they had to be married to another professional dancer.
Because their lives were
Get up
Eat a half bread crust
Loosen up
exercise
rehearse
relax
more rehearsing
another half-crust of bread
sleep
Had I treated my first car, a 1956 Pontiac, the same way it would probably still be running like a top (note: with all the stuff about mileage today I’d like to note that it had a 318 cubic inch V-8 and got 25 mpg.
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:25 am
Nolanimrod said,
“Because their lives were
Get up
Eat a half bread crust
Loosen up
exercise
rehearse
relax
more rehearsing
another half-crust of bread
sleep.”
True, that. What dedication it requires.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Those clips were delightful. She has such a remarkably youthful voice and exudes positive energy.
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Nolanimrod forgot:
Trips to the chiropractor
Bandaid for the feet/toes
Ben-Gay or Arnica balm
Pony Tail holders
(You can always recognize a former/current dancer – head erect and the best posture of anyone else around.)
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Thanks for bringing this dance world to guys like me who never had an appreciation for it before. And I did do some healing work with a couple of dancers in NY, but never went to watch them.
This woman exemplifies the chinese credo “after 40? A woman gets the face she deserves.”. They both exude love of each other and love of life. That is the true fountain of youth.
And I didn’t know he was the famous 7 UP guy with the booming voice. Their voices still carry the sounds of a vibrant life force.
October 24th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Neo, slightly off topic but you might be interested in this post at my blog in which I am sort of tiptoeing up to watching a ballet. One sentence version: Terry Teachout and Laura Jacobs have made me wonder if I’m missing something.