Conversations with Megan, featuring Edward Villella

Join our Post-Interview Zoom Huddle next Saturday at 4PM to ask Edward a question of your own! For tickets go to Eventbrite link: edward_megan.eventbrite.com
Such a bucket list thing for me to interview this legend of New York City Ballet, Edward Villella. His story is unique and inspiring as his father wasn't initially supportive of his son dancing. Edward's passion for ballet survived that as well as four years at a maritime college, after which he made his lifelong dream of dancing for Mr. B. come true by joining NYCB at the age of 21, spending the previous four years boxing, playing baseball and sailing the world. Known for his physicality and masculine energy onstage, it was so fun to hear about his respect for all of the geniuses that choreographed on him and how he approached his performances. He originated so many successful ballets and it is incredible to hear his own experiences of those times. Hope you enjoy this gem of a man as much as I do!

[@wendyandron]

my husband fell in love with ballet because of Edward Villella. There was a TV feature about him and my husband was blown away by his athleticism, which he had not understood male ballet dancers to have. We subscribed, at which point he fell in love with Patricia McBride and Judith Fugate, and of course Suzanne Farrell. I am still a subscriber and I am grateful to you, Megan for this episode in particular, to see Eddie again. By the way, my daughter attended a summer dance camp he had on Cape Cod. Wonderful memories.

[@sabinebaratte8965]

This interview is a treasure. I saw Edward Villella dance many times, often with Patricia McBride (what a fabulous duo!), when I was young. He was such a wonderful dancer and presence and now I see that he is a wonderful 'raconteur.' Thank you Megan and thank you thank you Mr. Villella for this interview. You've made my day.

[@maryroddy6684]

A little hug from heaven today . My dad’s friend Edward Villella (Eddie) doing an interview! So grateful for this interview and the hospitality that Mr. Villella showed me as a child. Imagine being able to visit him backstage at the NYC ballet! Thank you Mr Villella ! You look and sound great! I even got a peek at a picture of my dad in the Maritime College photo! Godspeed Mr Villella! ❤️❤️❤️

[@emmadavis5197]

My grandmother danced with NYCB in the ‘60s. I am loving these interviews to hear different stories than the ones she has told us for years. Always the same love for Mr. B❤️

[@deborahhigginbotham7276]

God bless you, Mr. Villella -- my memories of you are positive, enlightening, and encouraging. You've touched a lot of people's hearts. Take care! I'm so glad to hear that you kicked COVID's ass.

[@patmitchell1517]

Great interview megan..love vilella..saw him dance many times..3 of my company students had him at Miami for summer intensives and about 5 years ago had lunch with him and Cathy chamberlain and Carter in dallas where he was teaching master classes..great reunion.

[@floridastate4604]

The interviewer she is so very pretty Ed is a Legend !

[@noahburke]

I love this interview. I was so lucky to see Eddie V. perform when at the height of his dancing career. He could fill up the stage even when he was the only one on it, even when watching from the 5th ring, which was where my parents got seats they could afford. My dad liked to remind us that Eddie had been a boxer at one time. I loved his book "Prodigal Son." I wonder, how many men became ballet dancers because of their sisters? I think quite a few.

[@meganfairchild6135]

My bro!!!

[@noahburke]

@@meganfairchild6135 Also Mr. B! Thank you for this terrific series. I am eager to see a live performance this fall and know these interviews have deepened my appreciation and understanding of ballet.

[@kellymac2404]

Love ❤️ Mr. Villella was so fortunate to see him perform many times ❤️

[@RobertGould-rk5qs]

I played baseball with Edward vallea when he and I played for the Breslin AC. The early 50,s. Queens New York

[@lanelmuhammad]

We've upgraded to a beginning credits?!? We see you Megan !!! ♥️

[@meganfairchild6135]

😂😂😂

[@katereinsch4789]

I moved backwards about ten times to review the beginning credits in detail! So lovely!

[@paulinecheng3494]

This interview reminded me of a pre-show talk that Mr Villela participated in when MCB was in LA many years ago. I remember thinking what a terrific interviewee he was and that it would be wonderful to get him on a longer one. So pleased to see him still has his raconteur skills and that Megan has this wonderful venue to share him with us. ❤️

[@katepickert7549]

Wonderful interview. Loved all of Mr. Villella’s stories. What a gracious man.

[@cquinnth]

My first ballet was the Nutcracker in the late 50s early 60s with Edward Villella as peppermint candy cane. He could really jump and was so great! Patricia McBride was the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was at the City Center and I was 12 years old and thrilled to bits!

[@heathermiller9707]

Excellent interview. I love how closely Megan listens to Eddie V. And Eddie V is such a charmer!

[@dancingwithq3986]

OMG this is is amazing!!! I'm such a huge fan of Mr Villella! He and Fernando Bujones. are my fave dancers!

[@redlantern3371]

Precious. Absolutely precious man. I am loving your interviews so much Megan!

[@nicoleb9774]

I was performing with Burklyn Ballet at the Festival Fringe in Scotland and he came and taught our company class. I remember him fondly. This was so great to learn about his life.

[@marymohagheghi4875]

Love seeing your dancing🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💞💞💞💞💞

[@jnb1856]

YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[@susanpfaust]

My nephew went to the Maritime College. now part of SUNY -- excellent school

[@MrQbenDanny]

BRAVO!!! BRAVISSIMO!⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️ VIVA VILLELLA!!! 🥊🥊🥊🥊🥊 Dear Eddie, You look FANTASTIC in spite of the cruel obstacles that invaded your life. This survival gene of yours, is common in Italians. I am not Italian, but I grew up in an Italian neighborhood during a time when front doors could be left unlocked and abundant food to feed the borough's of Queens and our first cousin BROOKLYN. In 1972, I greeted you in Lincoln Center Plaza and thanked you for inspiring me to take boxing lessons which I enjoyed tremendously and helped me achieve centered pirouettes. I even combed my hair like you, kinda like it looks on you now. Your performances helped me understand what free spirited dancing meant and emotionally what it should look like. I became better, more relaxed and UNFUSSY. Once, after a grueling class from Bill Griffith at the Joffrey, the sadistic maestro says while I was doing a variation: Bill Griffith: "WOW!!! Look at Danny, devouring space!!!Did you see Villella last night?!!" Me: "YES!!! So glad you noticed!!!" He was a real chain smoking s.o.b., but a magnificent teacher. Cough. I want you to know how much impact you had in our lives as an amazing presence of male dancing. You "Butched", everybody up. Thanks. "PRODIGAL", my favorite, was your Bread and Butter jewel, I saw it many times. That ending was always devastating, the great STATE THEATER in ABSOLUTE silence. I feel privileged to have experienced the Edward VILLELLA spirit firsthand. BRAVO, great ARTIST, standing ovation for you from ALL OF US!!! TAKE A BOW.

[@memm7258]

This was amazing!! Thank you so much. 🙏🏻💙🙏🏻💙

[@deborahdirago2301]

Your interviews get better and better! Thank you Megan.

[@karenlanders1538]

Thank you so much for doing these interviews, these people are legend and I think it’s so important to record their thoughts and memories. I have been in love with Edward Villella for years, he was my first introduction into the world of ballet. What a national treasure,

[@lindaterrell5535]

I’m so glad I got to see him perform in Tampa. Two different years.

[@alwaysblake148]

Just happened upon this channel and subscribed immediately. I hope Megan keeps this going. She is a first class interviewer. And the fact that she is also one of the world's great dancers makes it more surprising and satisfying.

[@marianaponcedeleon466]

Thank you so much Megan!!!

[@ryannmtucker]

Absolutely loved this! Would love to see Jacques d'Amboise next!!❤️

[@TMT-4869]

HOW COOL!

[@judithricca6915]

Wow, Edward Villela, just as passionate and articulate as he was onstage. Thank you Megan for another great interview. I have an autographed copy of his autobiography entitled Prodigal Son that I purchased on Feb. 6, 1992 at the NY State Theater. I will have to reread parts of it; I put several markers in it; obviously, I recommend it.

[@KargartJ]

Thank you, Megan for doing this interview.

[@divab63]

I was lucky to take a master class from him at UC Irvine in the early 80s. He was charming and taught an amazing class. Jillana was one of our teachers so we were comfortable with the Balanchine style but he was so upbeat and fun.

[@FredCompton]

WOW what a life story Eddie, one pugnacious pugilist indeed! I laughed when you talked about Running Bases, I grew up in Queens too and we played that game also. From one Queens Boy to another, thank you for sharing soooo much! Megan, thank you again for a great production. Keep up up the great work :-)

[@myrajessicareichlen252]

Oh also I was going to ask you, will you please interview Ms. Suzanne Farrell? She is such a legendary ballerina but it is hard to find interviews with her. I saw a movie about her that showed how Mr. Balanchine fell in love and wanted to marry her. It would be so nice to see you talk with her!!! Thank you Ms. Fairchild. Hello from Vancouver!!

[@katherineb9763]

I lived on Broadway and 73rd for 17 years. Those Broadway lights are short! I sometimes needed 2 light cycles to cross. ( I walk slowly. I promenade!) I remember thinking this as I read his book. He is so hard on himself!

[@sundancex]

Brava! Thanks for this interview from this most brilliant dancer, a real gem & treasure of the dance world & NYCB. It's wonderful to hear his stories of Mr. B. Your interviews are the best, particularly your ability to draw personal stories & insights from your guests in such a relaxed & intimate manner. To catch your interview with Robert Barnett early on in this pandemic, & now Villella near - one hopes - the end, are perfect bookends. Keep it up. Looking forward to more great talks.

[@tommydenzio]

Thank you Megan that was soooo special. My first NYCB show was Eddie and Patricia Mc Bride in Tarantella.

[@katherineb9763]

Richard Rapp!!! He taught me at SAB. Was so special to hear Eddie mention him as a dressing room mate

[@alexmares1946]

Interview Tiler Peck next!!

[@David-pt8ge]

That was so inspiring. And to know that you are woven into the history of so many ballets when they were created, that is amazing. Loved the new credits and interwoven photos to bring it to life. The bit where he says, What’s his name? Gene Kelly. That made me laugh. This was a great way to wake up on a cold January morning in London.

[@annakramer3596]

Great interview! I am learning so much as a ballet fan!

[@robertarthur3889]

Great interview. What a legend! I am always intrigued with the early early years of NYCB and hearing Mr V's stories are truly awe-inspiring . I have a suggestion for you Megan to consider: doing perhaps a mother-daughter feature of Kyra Nichols and Sally Streets who both danced at NYCB. My first ever ballet teacher was Sally Streets in Berkeley, CA when I went to UC Berkeley as an undergraduate, I danced for Sally in her company called Berkeley Ballet Theater for 2 seasons before I moved to NYC. Sally would at times tell us some stories of her time working with Mr. B. And Kyra Nichols would come and visit her mom and take our company class, which was mind blowing for me at the time way back then. . :)

[@6gorks]

Really loved this, thank you!

[@susanpainter4815]

Megan, this was great!! Eddie V is such an icon, and I've read his autobiography, but this was much more--more insight into who he was--and IS--as a person and as a dancer. it was delightful. It was also very nice to see the rapport develop between the two of you as the conversation went along. I've seen his choreography for figure skating, too--a show a few years back called "Shall We Dance on Ice" with, among others, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, just then coming off their gold medal ice dance performance at the 2014 Olympics. Do you think there might be a 2nd installment of this conversation that focuses on Miami City Ballet, how that all came about, etc? I'm familiar with many of the NYCB "legacy" companies (SD Ballet, PNB, etc) and it would be so interesting to learn about how someone creates a ballet company, how they translate the Balanchine repertoire but also the aesthetic environment, the Balanchine energy and 'morality', if you will, to a new company, a new time and place, etc. Thank you for this episode and for all the previous conversations you've let us be part of. I intend to drop into your Saturday zoom huddle, too.

[@running179]

Really love these interviews/conversations, Megan! I keep wishing that you'd interview Suzanne Farrell, & I wonder why you don't. Other people have asked this same question, & you haven't responded to them either about this...sometimes I wonder if you all (the NYCB principals 'raised' under Peter's directorship) have something against Suzanne, maybe because of how Peter talked negatively about her after their long-ago falling-out. It's weird how you and others act as if she's a stranger. Anyway...she was the NYCB's greatest Balanchine ballerina, the quintessential Balanchine dancer, & one of the greatest American ballerinas of the 20th century. It would be fantastic to see you talk with her. In addition to Suzanne, why don't you interview another mega-great, Gelsey Kirkland?

[@6gorks]

"Like fancy free!!!"" Hahaha! Oh my gosh, :D!

[@Mark_R_Tho]

My old boss!!!😃

[@FriendlyneighborhoodC8]

WOW so many stories and so much wisdom! I’m so glad they made it through the virus and he was able to do this interview. We need to learn all we can from them before the torch is passed to us. I really want to learn more about him and his career, it’s so fascinating. I think I compare him to Sara Mearns a little bit, they have this innate passion and deep emotional connection to dance and fought for it with so much tenacity.

[@katherineb9763]

Now you HAVE to get Patty on your show!

[@katherineb9763]

OMG!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! Is Allegra kent far behind???

[@myrajessicareichlen252]

Ms. Fairchild, I love these interviews! I just found this video of Gelsey Kirkland!! Do you know who she is? She was in New York City Ballet decades ago, and she became extremely famous when she went to the American Ballet Theatre company. I loved her interview at the end. She did this Theme & Variations ballet when she was *16*!! If you haven't seen the video, here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZimkqWbqtqrgZY