11.09
Ballet West Principal Artist Christopher Ruud danced the role of Ferdinand in Ballet West’s presentation of Michael Smuin’s THE TEMPEST this past weekend. Ballet West audiences are well aware of his fine artistry. He is athletic, poetic and charismatic. What some may not know is that the role of Ferdinand was created over twenty years ago by Tom Ruud, Christopher’s father! Father and son dancing the same role is quite rare and we in Utah are lucky to have the opportunity to witness this. There are five more performances next week. Check dates and casting on this website to plan which performance to attend.
Evelyn Cisneros, Little Christopher Ruud, Tom Ruud
Thank you for allowing me to post this rare photograph Christopher and Congratulations!
-Mark
Mark,
I understand Michael Bearden is injured, so he isn’t in Tempest, but where is Elizabeth McGrath? Also, are all the dancers getting updated pictures?
Michael Bearden is recovering from surgery on both of his ankles and hopes to be back in rehearsals soon.
Elizabeth McGrath has just been cleared to work again. She suffered from a neck injury at the end of last season.
Ballet West will try its best to get all new dancer headshots this season.
Christopher, your dad was in my class, taught by Phil Keeler. We used to do jumps and turns together at the end. I loved him dearly!! He always had a shoulder for me to cry on. This is a marvelous picutre showing his warmth and his smile. Jean Lambie from ’64.
What fun! I saw this Tempest debuted in 1980 or ’81 when I lived in SF, just starting out with my first job. Such a thrill then, as now, to be a subscriber to SF Ballet. At the time I also took adult evening classes at the OLD SFB school in the Richmond from Christopher’s mother, Mary Ruud. I loved every minute of her classes, we had a studio pianist and I cannot hear a Chopin waltz without pressing my feet down, and creating space between my hips and ribs while lifting my ears a bit further from my shoulders, even today. Please pass this along to Christopher, and to Mary if you can, from a grateful dancing fan.