| OCR Text |
Show Citizen, Press, Review, Wed., May 1, 1985 - Page 14 Degnan performed well in "Copellia" Former wrestler, turned dancer, Matthew Degnan, decided that ballet was more rewarding than pushing someone's head in the mat. Degnan, now a dancer with Ballet West, performed the role of Frans in Utah Regional Ballet's "Coppelia" last Saturday and Monday at Timpview High. A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Degnan and his older brother, Peter, were seriusly involved in wrestling when Peter got interested in ballet. He was intrigued to learn that one and a half hours in ballet was more difficult and physically demanding than two and a half hours of wrestling. Matthew didn't doubt his brother's discovery, but questioned Peter's decision to switch from wrestling to ballet. "Then I saw Peter work and his concentration, and when I tried dancing too, I found that I preferred it over wrestling," Matthew said. "I found it was more rewarding to please people through artistic ex-pression." But, it wasn't until Peter in-troduced him to Saranon and Ed-ward Villela and ballet in New York that he became dedicated to the Art. "Vilella's pure athletics in his dancing were incredible!" Degnan reconciled himself to the fact that even though ballet artists in Denmark, Russia, Italy and the Paris Opera are subsidized by their governments, and his choice of profession might never make him wealthy in America, he's never been sorry. As a professional dancer, he has performed for several companies througout the U.S., including the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet Metropolitan of Columbus, Ohio,, and the Connecticut Ballet of New Haven, Conn. This is Degnan's third season with Ballet West. He has performed roles in both the classic and modern idioms, ranging from the serious roles to the comic. Some of these include the Cavalier in the "Nut-cracker", "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux" by Balanchine, "Aureole" by Paul Taylor, the Bartender in Ruth ' Page's "Frankie and Johnny", and most recently, the role of Hassan in Ballet West's revival of "Abdallah" by August Bournonville. A teacher and choreographer as well as a performer, Degnan established an Artist-in-Scho- Residency program in his hometown of Bethlehem, Pa., and has had guest teaching positions with yale University, the University of New Haven,and the Ballet Academy. As a choreographer, he has produced works for several regional companies, some still in active repetoire today. "Ballet's for everyone. When it first began it was just for the nobility in Russia. Now, Russian people go to the ballet like they go to football games here. They don't have foot-ball there, ballet's part of their culture. "When we do LD's (lecture-demonstration-in schools we've noticed that the attitude of children has changed during the past 10 years. We still see students do caricatures of ballet; characters come in and kibitz you; then point to our tights and snicker, but we learn to deal with it," Degnan said. "Sometimes when they see a dancer fall, they laugh, but when they learn what goes on and the difficulty of the dance, they un-derstand. It's not stupidity, it's ignorance. Once they're educated to ballet, their attitudes change. And it's changed a lot. We've given over 60 LD's in schools over the state, and gradually we're seeing a new ap-preciation for ballet," stated the artist." It could not have been easy for Matthew, or other male ballet dancers. "I've had girls walk away from me in high school dances when I told 'em I was going to be a ballet dan-cer. They have preconceived prejudices about sensuality, they don't see how well you perform," he said. Ballet requires a strict regimen of training. Degnan said that most dancers work out for hours every day six days a week. There's a ballet creed: If you miss one day of practice, the dancer notices it; if you miss two days, a teacher notices it, and if you miss three days of practice, the audience notices it. Matthew is still reaching for the stars. His goal, "I don't know if I'll achieve it," is to dance the role of Albrecht in "Giselle." "The role is physically deman-ding. Albrecht is a young prince who is flippant about his powers as a prince. You see him mature from that to an adult, sort of a change from earthly to spiritual qualities." Meanwhile, Degnan is delighted to work with the young stars of the Utah Regional Ballet. "I love working with the company, and Jackie's one of the best teacher's around," he said. Degnan's father is a secretary for a steel industry. He was surprised when both sons chose ballet for their careers. "But heencouraged us, saying, 'If that's what you want to do, then do it, and do it your best.' " "Ballet touches so many people in such a special way. It's a theatre experience, and art of the moment, our language isn't conditioned to describe it," Degnan stated. Members of the Utah Regional Ballet won't forget Matthew Degnan's enthusiasm and dedication, which they saw in abundance as they worked with him to prepare for "Coppelia." hello world Babies born in Am. Fork Hospital; April 6 Girl to Rick and Judy Scholes Richards of Orem. April 8 Girl to Woodrow and Sheri Hansen Wagner III of Orem Boy to Dave and Shari Tyler Smith of Provo. Girl to Lorin and Janet Cowley Hicken of Highland. Boy to Terry and Sheirlee Tripp Webb of Lehi. Girl to Richard and Pamela Lamoreaux Thompson of Am. Fb April 10 Boy to Joseph R. and Colleen Colledge Hardy of Lindon. Boy to Lance and Karen Gray Patterson of Lehi. Twin boys to Gary and Betty Anderson Brown of Orem. Girl to Hal and Ann Romney Fitzgerald of Am. Fork. Girl to E. Clark and Barbara Taylor Roberts of Pleasant Grove Girl to William and Linda Wright Plastow of Salt Lake City Girl to Kevin and Marcia Smith Stoker of Am. Fork. April 11 - Boy to John and Julia Norton Ellison of Am. Fork. April 12 Boy to Bill and Jonice Johnson Hubbard of Am. Fork. April 13 Girl to Gordon and Lanae Smith Clark of Lehi. Girl to Stephen E. and Jacqueline Adamson Holdaway 0f Pleasant Grove. April 14 Girl to Michael and Trudy Hansen Nielsen of Highland. Boy to Michael T. and Tena Cramer Barber of Orem. Girl to Eric and Pamela Green Mullen of Orem. Boy to Robert A. and Kimberly Nelson Atwood of Lehi. April 15 Girl to Kelly and Carilee Cox Harper of Am. Fork. Girl to Michael and Gaylene Messersmith Neil of Lehi. Girl to Kent and Jill Fitzgerald Call of Layton. April 16 Boy to James and Caralee Bond Cook of Am . Fork. Girl to David and Jeri Lynn Anderson Gordon of Am. Fork. Girl to David and Virginia Fulton Perkins of Provo. Girl to James and Marilyn Thomas Barry of Pleasant Grove. Utah Children's Choir concert set tomorrow The Utah Children's Choir will present their Spring Concert, Thursday, May 2 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concert, directed by Miss Kay Asay, will be held in the American Heritage School Chapel, 125 N. 100 E., in Pleasant Grove. , Featured on the concert will be numbers by Bach and Handel in honor of the tricentennial an-niversary of their births. The choir will also sing a number by Randall Thompson set to a poem of Robert Frost, as well as some folk songs of Europe, and a madrigal sung in German. Mrs. Nancy Larson ac-companies the choir. At this time auditions are open for the 1985-8- 6 season for the Utah Children's Choir. Auditions will last through the month of May for children from ages The choir is .dedicated to studying and presenting the music of the master composers in the European style of children's choirs, as well as vocal technique, theory, and musician-ship. If you are interested contact Kay Asay, 785-031- 2 or 785-405- to set up an appointment. Q obituaries J George W. Price Sr. George W. Price Sr., Wayne R. McTague 85, Lehi, died from natural causes Friday, April 26, 1985, at a Provo hospital. He was born July 28, 1899 at Draper to George F. and Emma Allphin Price. He married Monida Gardner, She later died,, He married Myrtle O. Colvin Sept. 25, 1944 at Ogden. She died Sept. 19,1980. He was a farmer and for 25 years he managed the Lehi By-- . Products Company. He worked at the Utah State Training School. He lived in Lehi most of his life. After the death of his second wife, he lived in American Fork and Pleasant Grove with his daughters. He was a member of the LDS Church. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Post 3372, Pleasant Grove. He was active in REAC Post 3372. Survivors include one son and three daughters: George W. Price, Jr., Orem; Mrs. Richard (Jean) Stagg, Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Nolan (Linda) Good-win, American Fork; and Mrs. Bert (Florence) Followwill, Ogden; ; 16 grand-children; ,24 , great grandchildren; three great great grand-children; and one brother, Allpine "Ott" Price, Ogden. Services were held Monday, April 29, at Wing Mortuary. The Eagles ceremony was Sunday at the mor-tuary. Burial was in the Lehi City Cemetery. Earl K. Laycock Wayne Robinson McTague, 66, died April 25, 1985 in American Fork. He was born Aug. 26, 1918 in American Fork, the son of John Earl and Kathryn (Kate) Curry Robinson Mc- Tague. He married Mary Lundell June 5, 1941 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He was a graduate of BYU and received a master's degree in hospital administration from the University of California at Berkley. He was the ad-ministrator of the American Fork Hospital for 17 years. He was a member of the Utah State Hospital Association, Blue Cross of Utah trustee, American Fork City Hospital trustee, member of Mountain Land Planning Council, treasurer . of American Fork Hospital Association, member of the American Fork Library Board and County Government Regulatory Com-mission, an advisor at Utah Technical College, secretary of the union at Geneva Steel, was American Fork Jaycee's Citizen of the Year, past president of the American Fork Rotary Club, past president of the American Fork Chamber of Commerce and a member of the American Management Association. He was serving as bishop of the American Fork 28th Ward and was a former bishop of - ., v-- I I I- - the American Fork 8th Ward. He had served as a high councilman in the American Fork North Stake. He had served an LDS mission to the Hawaiian Islands. He was a Eagle Scout and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. He was a member of the Utah National Parks Council and the Executive Board for the Boy Scouts. He was a track star athlete at American Fork High School and BYU. He served as the official score keeper for high school basketball for 22 years. He is listed in "Personalities of the West." He is survived by his wife of American Fork; two daughters: Mrs. Robert C. (Leilani) Sheen, American Fork; Mrs. Bruce G. (Colleen) Storrs, Tacoma, Wash.; six grandchildren; a brother, Harry D. McTague, American Fork. He was preceded in death by a brother, Earl, and a grandson, Ryan. Funeral services were held Monday in the 28th Ward Chapel. Burial was in the American Fork City Cemetery. Services were under the direction of President C. Richard Devey of the American Fork North Stake. Casket bearers were Richard Byrnes, George Cherrington, Mark Hardman, Kirk Conder, Calvin Evans, .and Matt Murdock. Honorary casket bearers were Lesley Brooks, Kevin Gordon, Richard Farmer, and David Peterson. The family prayer was by Robert Sheen, a son-in-la- The prelude and postlude were played by Lydia Kirkpatrick. The 28th Ward Choir sang, "Oh, That I Were an Angel," directed by Tamera Buhler and ac-companied by Claudia Anderson. The invocation was by President Alvin Fulkerson. Tributes were given by President Phil D. Jensen, Bishop Carl Ingersoll, Bishop John W. Linebaugh, Dean Christensen, Bishop Rodney Turner and President David R. Richards. Lydia Kirkpatrick played an organ medley and Thayne Bateman sang, "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked," accompanied by Lydia Kirkpatrick. The 28th Ward Choir sang, "God Be With You," directed by Claudia Anderson and accompanied by Tamara Buhler. The benediction was by Bishop Thomas J. Griffiths. The grave was dedicated by President R. Sherman Robinson. Earl Kenneth Laycock, 66, died April 28, 1985 at his home. He was born Aug. 23, 1919 in American Fork, the son of Albert H. and . Marjorie Snyder Laycock. He married Carole Greene Dec. 6, 1946 in Elko, Nev. v He was a member of I the American Fork 8th ' Ward, was active in the i Little League, loved the outdoors and horse racing. He is survived by his NN t 1-- si j A wife of American Fork; one son and four daughters: Mrs. Paul (Marjorie) Kaneko, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Lynn (Kathy) Miller, Earl K. Jr., both of Pleasant Grove; Mrs. Carol Ann Thompson and Mrs. John (Tamera) Lundin, both of American Fork; 10 grandchildren. Graveside services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the American Fork City Cemetery. Friends may call at Anderson and Sons Mortuary, 49 E. 100 North, American Fork, one hour prior to services Wednesday. Dowling Card of Thanks We would like to return the heartfelt love and concern to all those in Utah County who showed, through calls, cards, flowers, and donations, their kind-ness during the death of our beloved brother and uncle, Reverend Monsignor Edward F. Dowling. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to those who attended the Rosary, Memorial Mass and Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter's Church in American Fork. Thank you to the paramedics and the emergency room staff at American Fork Hospital. Our gratitude goes to Mrs. Carolyn Myers for her extraordinary help and service. St. Peter's Altar Society served a very nice lunch. We ap-preciate their work and kindness. -- Mary & Jack Renner Mary K. & John Case & Family Jack E. & Kris Renner YOU I I few - Ail E L - iVfe? .,,'' 1 J Fantasy Art Show includes dragon images. All Month Fantasy Art Group Show, May Gallery 303, Harris fire Ar's .Cener"(HFAC), Western Watercolor ' '.- - Society, B.F'r ..Lqrserr. .Gallery," (HFAC). Admission is ; free.. Gallery 303 open, weekdays 8 ; B.F, daily 7 a. nr.-1- p.m. ILarsen, Theater Widow Emma Walker yearns to join her departed husband in the new play "A Wi1! and Away," which opens May 9, 8 p.m., Margetts Arena Theatre, (HFAC). Other performances are May 10, 11,' 14-1- 21-2- at 8 p.m. with o matinee May 20 at 4:30 p.m.' Coll 378-744- for tickets" Tennessee Williams' classic "The Glass Menager-ie" begins May 30, 8 p.m., Pardoe Drama Theatre, (HFAC). Other performances are May 31, June 1,4-8- , with a matinee June 10 at 4:30 p.m. Tickets . available after May. 20 at 378-744- . r ' ' --"1 MUSIC BYU composer-in-residenc- Merrill Bradshaw'i music, featured May 21, 8 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall. For information I Cr n CAROLYN'S : IHaNJIIR 'DESIGNERS A FLU SERVICE SALON WHERE QUALITY COUNTS Men & Boys Come in and see what we can do for you Taper Cuts $6.00 Style Cuts $6.00 & We do beards and mustaches too! Mother's Day is coming! We can help you with the perfect gift for Mom. Call now for an appointment A 140 S. Main, Suite 3, PI. Grove J X 1 785-517- 2 J UJGDC31T'G 1 DEEr3C3TOES Hanging Baskets 8 Bedding Plants 1 tSftA Geraniums Vegetables 1 Flowers Perennials B i?"? 'cHIINHOUSI 9 |
