Petrus Bosman
Choreographer, dancer and world-class entrepreneur Petrus Bosman passed away on July 19th, suffering cardiac arrest while engaged as a guest artist with Jordan Academy, Indianapolis, IN. He was 80 years old.
Bosman had been the Artistic Director of the Virginia School of the Arts for 17 years until his retirement at the end of 2006 when he became Artistic Director Emeritus. Bosman’ artistic flair and strong pedagogic abilities touched thousands of lives throughout his career as a teacher, choreographer and director. Many of his students have realized fulfilling professional lives and attribute their success to his influence.
A native of South Africa, Bosman was the first male dancer to enter Britain’s Royal Ballet without having first gone through its Academy. During his 17 year career with the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, Bosman advanced through the ranks to attain the status of principal dancer. Among his credits, Bosman danced with ballet legends including Margot Fonteyn, Rudolph Nureyev, Merle Park, Anthony Dowell, Natalia Makarova, Sir Fredrick Ashton and many others. He was well known for his character portrayals as Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty, an Ugly Sister opposite Sir Fredderick Ashton in “Cinderella,” the Widow Simone in “La Fille Mal Gardee,” Dr. Coppelius in “Coppelia” and the title role in “Petrouchka” which was also his retirement performance at Covent Garden. Also during those years, Bosman mounted several benefit gala performances for various charity events often under the patronage of members of the Royal Family. He formed, organized and booked tours for an ensemble of soloist and principal dancers of the Royal Ballet known throughout parts of Europe, Asia and South Africa known as The Bosman Follies.
Bosman entered the United States in July 1977 as Ballet Master of the Maryland Ballet and was soon appointed Artistic Director. Later, he became the Director of Dance at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois, Ballet Master with Ballet West, and finally, the Artistic Director of Virginia School of the Arts in 1989. He is survived by his sister, Joyce Basson of Capetown, South Africa. A memorial celebration in his honor was held in Lynchburg, VA.