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Septuagenarians Celebrate Aging In Aspen Santa Fe Ballet's 'Beautiful Decay'

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet presents its first-ever evening length ballet this weekend.  “Beautiful Decay” explores the transition of aging, and features two guest dancers in their seventies. 

 

76-year-old Hilary Cartwright is a teacher and former soloist with London’s Royal Ballet. She takes the stage this weekend in “Beautiful Decay,” alongside fellow septuagenarian Gregg Bielemeier and dancers that are more than five decades younger.

 

 

Cartwright says the ballet has a message for audience members of all ages. 

"We all have to face these changes in our lives, and it’s the grace with which you accept how actually wonderful it is getting older," she said.

Dancers have notoriously short careers, but Cartwright says hers was particularly brief after she was injured in the 1960s. 

"It’s something you’re never prepared for, no matter how much you might think, 'Well, this could happen,'" she said.

“Beautiful Decay” is her first performance in thirty-five years.  

It begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Aspen District Theatre.  

 

Contributor Christin Kay is passionate about the rich variety of arts, cultural experiences and stories in the Roaring Fork Valley. She has been a devotee of public radio her whole life. Christin is a veteran of Aspen Public Radio, serving as producer, reporter and interim news director.
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