Left, Right and Farber

In “Before the Critics Have Their Say” (by Victoria Looseleaf, June 2), Douglas Nielsen was quoted as saying, “Viola Farber said she stopped choreographing because she couldn’t decide whether to turn left or right.” Nielsen has either misquoted Farber or the quote was taken out of context. I understand the point he is trying to make, but Farber never stopped choreographing until shortly before her death in December 1998.

What she said was, “When I am working on a new dance, if I can’t decide whether to turn left or right, I stop choreographing for that day.”

Farber choreographed two new works during the 1997-98 season and performed in New York in 1998 until a month before she died at age 67. Something as insignificant as not being able to decide whether to turn right or left would never have stopped her from choreographing.

JEFF SLAYTON

Long Beach

Slayton was married to Farber, was a member of her company and is the author of “The Story of Viola Farber.”