Rebecca Wright
Rebecca Wright, who danced with the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, passed away at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, at the age of 58. The cause was cancer.
Becky, as she was known to her colleagues and students, received her early training in Dayton, Ohio, from Josephine Schwarz. She was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Scholarship to further her training. Upon graduation from high school, she received a contract to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in New York and excelled in works by Gerald Arpino, Jerome Robbins and Frederick Ashton.
From 1975 to 1982, she was a soloist with American Ballet Theatre and later appeared on Broadway in "Merlin" for which she received a Drama Desk supporting actress in a musical nomination. She appeared on television in Live from Lincoln Center, and Edward Villella's "Harlequin" and was in the national touring company of "On Your Toes." She worked with Twyla Tharp and later staged her ballets.
As a teacher, Rebecca went on to direct the ABT Summer Intensives. She also held a professorship at Cal State University - Long Beach, was Director of Dance at Adelphi University in New York and was Director of Dance Programs at The St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. In 2000-2001, she chaired the Joffrey Ballet/New School University BFA program in Dance and in 2004 succeeded Mary Day, founder of the Washington School of Ballet, as its director.
Rebecca Wright leaves two sons, Matthew and Alexander, from her marriage to George de la Pena.
Becky was beloved by her students. She was demanding, yet caring and a force of encouragement to them. Contributions can be made to The Washington School of Ballet Rebecca Wright Scholarship Fund, 3515 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016.