Claudia’s Amelia

Claudia Moore on her first encounter with Amelia at NBS:

“Me: the young bunhead, clean pink footless tights, black leotard.

She: all holey knitted legwarmer and dirty feet, wild hair, her sinewy physicality was creature-like – I’d never seen anything like it.

She exposed us young adolescents to the power of Martha Graham – Amelia’s ease with her own physicality and sensuality helped us into ours. No words, only the clear example in her movements transmitted to us.

I see her even now – lithe muscles wrapped around her small frame, the bones of her beautiful limbs alive with connection at once mystical and earthly. Not a typical beauty – more gnarly ancient tree spirit, more exotic bird from far away place in jungle spine a mythical creature such as I had never met before.

Second Encounter: 1976

“After a few years in classical ballet – giving up the pointe shoes, and finding myself barefoot and thrilled to move to the beat of Ricardo’s congas at Toronto Dance Theatre. Amelia had left the company before I arrived, but stories of her legendary performances remained.

At TDT I was challenged for the first time in my young dancer life with dramatic solo roles that were physically and emotionally demanding for a 24 year old. I developed a habit of putting my back out before showtime and it was Amelia who helped me break that habit. She was well into her own healing journey – dealing with injuries from her own years of dancing demands. She understood the source of my problems and gave me the exercises to cope with the physical results of surely an emotional cause – between the shoulder blades, twist and minch, muscles grabbing.

She was simple and clear, but always left the unspoken knowledge that she could transmit to me and others who she so profoundly affected - those who could absorb Amelia.

I took her classes when I could. Learned how to sit, stand again. How to pick things up. Each time, I remember!”

Third Encounter: 1985

“After flying through a windshield in Paris, I needed her again. And there she was – more like an angel than ever – at my hospital bed, gently urging the life back into my arms and hands. I escaped paralysis by a hair – I was fortunate that surgery wasn’t needed, had only cracked C3, not broken it – but I know the healing process was encouraged in my body with Amelia’s help, her care and behind all this, her compassion.

She recommended I see Nehemia, her teacher, and I went every morning. After four months I was back on stage. Now I still have the occasional unruly rib or troublesome knee and I am still so grateful to Amelia for teaching me how to help myself, and if I can’t, there is the wonderful Ann Tutt, another of Nehemia’s gifted students – to help me through it.

But it’s the qualities that I can’t describe in Amelia’s presence, in her working and in her dancing that are most inspiring. Her ESSENCE, her LIGHT touched me deeply, and I am deeply grateful to her – thank you from my heart, AMELIA”