Alan Bergman (dancer)

Alan Bergman (died September 24, 2010) was an American ballet dancer, photographer and businessman.

He was the product of two generations of Russian/Polish Yiddish actors: Glicka and Morris Balavsky, co founders of Nordska Films, the Actors Studio and his mother, Miriam, a child star in the Yiddish theater.

Dance career

Bergman's dance career began at the early age of 8 years old when he was spotted by Andre Eglevsky jumping about playing the part of an airplane in a school play. Eglevsky took Bergman on as his protégé and taught him privately for two years. When Bergman was 10 years old Eglevsky took him to George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet where he was offered a full scholarship. A young spectator at his audition, Melissa Haydn, was impressed enough to note: "Alan possessed an extraordinary talent". Bergman’s teacher’s were Anatole Oboukoff, Pierre Vladimirov, (the partner of Anna Pavlova and contemporary of Vaslav Nijinsky), and Felia Doubrovska. He was also coached by Olga Preobrajenska and studied with Alexandra Danilova.

By age 15, Bergman was dancing soloist roles and soon became a principal dancer with a number of major companies such as the San Francisco Ballet and a Guest Artist with companies such as The National Ballet of Venezuela.

After seeing Bergman as the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty with the Eglevsky Ballet Company, the great dance critic Walter Terry said, "I had the unexpected pleasure of seeing a most talented and exciting young male dancer from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet. His elegant arms and extraordinary clean beats, entrechat-six and brise, are a homage to Andre Eglevsky whose protégé he is. The height of his explosive leaps and soft landings can not help but conjure up images of the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky. His name, Alan Bergman, is one to remember. He will undoubtedly have a great career."

Bergman also danced as a principal in numerous revivals of Broadway shows including Annie Get Your Gun, where he partnered Ginger Rogers.

Unfortunately a severe injury brought Alan Bergman’s dancing career to an early and abrupt halt.

Photography

After his injury, Bergman went on to become a successful dance and theatre photographer. His work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and traveling exhibitions. His images are currently displayed in six museums including the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC, the National Portrait Gallery, London, where a number are currently on show as part of the Royal Ballet's 75th Anniversary^[1] and the Theatre Museum, London.

Bergman also has a collection with Arenapal : The Performing Arts Image Library.

Dans-ez International

In 1976 Bergman founded the Dans-ez International Limited after producing the world's first cotton/Lycra leotards and tights. He came upon the idea during a New York photoshoot with a dancer who was wearing a nylon/Lycra leotard.

The company's dance and sports wear has become popular with professionals worldwide including principals of the Bolshoi and Kirov ballet, the British Army School of Physical Training as well as members of the British Olympic Team. Madonna even wore the Dans-Ez Classic Camisole on her 2006 Confessions world tour.^[2]

The Dans-ez Minimal Bounce sports bra is the only sports bra that is internationally patented.^[3]

Personal life

In 2000 Bergman's wife (whom he married in 1998), gave birth to their daughter. On September 24 at 8 pm, 2010 Bergman died suddenly of a massive heart attack.

References

External links

• Dans-ez International
• Arenapal - 'In the spotlight'
• Alan's work at the National Portrait Gallery, London