Dance Critic Defended

I read with interest your story on (San Diego Union dance critic) Anne Marie Welsh (“3 Troupes Call Dance Critic Biased, Ask Her Replacement,” Hilliard Harper, June 22). We were not involved simply because we have no complaint against her.

As a former New York City Ballet principal dancer, and one who has lived and worked here almost 13 years now, I feel that she is one of the few writers and critics we have had who is knowledgeable and very professional about reviewing dance. Her standards are high, as is her integrity.

For the record, when her husband, (Mieczyslaw) Morawski, was on faculty at our school, she remained totally neutral. No reviews of the ensemble (with or without his work) by her. We felt that we had gained a very credentialed teacher but, sadly, had lost the opinion and “guidance” of someone we knew that “knew.”

LYNDA YOURTH

Artistic Director

American Ballet School