In promoting dance, Judy Morr carves out her own legendary role
Few people are more excited about the return of La Bayadère, the classic Russian ballet, to southern California than Judith (Judy) O’Dea Morr, the entertainment executive who in three decades has made world-class dance the signature of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Amid the sweeping vistas and grand temples of mystical India, the Mariinsky Ballet presents La Bayadère, a glorious epic of eternal love and godly revenge on the Segerstrom stage, Oct. 16 through Oct. 20.
“This is the quintessential Russian ballet performed to perfection,” said Morr, adding that “there isn’t a moment when you can take your eyes off the stage.”
Morr is a legendary curator of the entertainment arts (she has been awarded the Segerstrom Cup and given the rare honor of having one of the Segestrom’s dance theaters actually named in her honor.
Known the world over as a dance enthusiast, Morr was the Director of the John F. Kennedy Center, one of the finest entertainment venues in the country before coming out west. Since arriving in Costa Mesa in 1993, however, she has made her mark on the industry, becoming the Center’s first-ever Executive Vice President after serving in a variety of capacities.
Morr alone is credited with the vast artistic vision that has not only embraced world class dance but has also managed to make the Segerstrom one of “the most ambitious, eclectic and successful performing arts center in the country.” She has made world-class dance the prestigious center’s artistic signature.
Under Morr’s leadership, the Center has thrown open its stage to off-Broadway productions, dance, jazz, cabaret, chamber music, family entertainment, special engagements, contemporary theater and annual Off-Center festival. Under Morr’s counsel, the Segerstrom’s “International Dance Series” has earned worldwide respect and admiration of performing arts organizations, dance companies and critics around the world.
Nearly every leading ballet company, including many smaller, wonderfully creative and innovative companies have appeared at the Center. In a rare interview this week, Morr explained to the Event-News Enterprise why she is so passionate about dance and why La Bayadère represents the best of the craft.
Even after so many years and hundreds of productions, Morr still is amazed at watching the entire process unfold.
“It is the most incredible thing,” says Morr, to watch all of the semi-trucks unload equipment, sets and other things and watch the Segerstrom professionals assemble and produce world-class, year-round entertainment of the highest order.
And Morr now watching the trucks bringing in the equipment for La Bayadère, a classic Russian ballet that she says represents “the pinnacle of ballet company success.”
Following a brilliant career in the industry, Morr has obtainted a rare and unique perspective about dance. First of all, she said, “you cannot love dance and not love music,” said Morr. “The two are intertwined.” She said the cast and crew of La Bayadère is about 200 professionals, including their own orchestra, the Mariinsky Orchestra, led by Leonard Minkus.
She said La Bayadère was first staged by famed choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Munkus at the Bolshoi Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1877. “What I can say about La Bayadère is that it is a ballet that will keep the audience engaged throughout the production,” said Morr.
Moving betweeen fact and fantasy, La Bayadère tells the story of the first-ever visit to Europe by Indian temple dancers. In fact, the word bayadere is French for Indian temple dancer, originating from the Portuguese word ballar, meaning dance.
One of the more popular classic ballet productions, La Bayadère offers tour de force performances as the tale’s doomed temple dancer Nikiya, the warrior who betrays her, Solor, and her arch rival Gamzatti.
This timeless masterpiece also features the mesmerizing “Kingdom of the Shades,” a showcase for the corps de ballet in white tutus, seemingly floating seamlessly in perfect synchronicity across the stage.
The production is lively, filled with beauty. Through the pale smoke of burning incense appear the unfamiliar silhouettes of the East as the exquisite production of La Bayadère includes the mystery, poetry, fairylike scenes that are made to evoke the same emotions the Europeans may have felt seeing the Indian temple dancers for the first time.
The production tracks historical accounts that indicate the bayaderes, previously a mystery to Europeans, were a smashing sensation as they stayed in Europe and performed in Paris, Vienna, Antwerp, Brussels, London and Brighton, among other locations.
Over the years, the classic ballet has been made part of the Olympics (figure skating routines), and iconic ballet star Rudolf Nureyev performed in La Bayadère in Paris in the mid 1990’s and his version for American Ballet Theatre has also been staged around the world.
Morr says La Bayadère “is a beautiful production with flowing movement, precise and delicate dance and helps you make up your own dream that you can do anything.” La Bayadère is “a perfect opportunity for the audience to open their minds and fall in love with music and dance.”
For tickets, contact Segerstrom ticket services, (714) 556-2787, or visit www.scfta.org.
Photo by Natasha Razina © State Academic Mariinsky Theatre
La Bayadère – Viktoria Tereshkina & Vladimir Shklyarov perform