David GordonDavid Gordon, who has died aged 69, was Ireland's leading ballet master. A dancer, director and choreographer, he brought a pointed professionalism to the teaching of ballet in Ireland.
He began his career as a boy soprano in his local church in the docks area of Belfast in the late 1940s. At the age of 15 he was chosen to represent Northern Ireland at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, singing solo and in chorus with other boy sopranos from Wales, Scotland and England. After the coronation, Dame Ninette De Valois, the founder of the Royal Ballet, who happened to be in the audience, asked to meet with David. He told her of his desire to become a dancer, once he had secured the necessary funding. Dame Ninette offered him a scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet.
In many ways, he was the Billy Elliot of the Shankill Road, later graduating to the Royal Ballet Company as a principal dancer and subsequently becoming a highly-regarded teacher. As a dancer David toured the world, sharing the stage with some of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century, including Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fontaine in countries such as France, America and Japan as well as numerous productions in London.
When, in the early 1970s, Joan Denise Moriarity began the process of setting up the Irish National Ballet, she turned to Dame Ninette De Valois for advice on potential ballet masters. There was only one recommendation, and David went to Cork for what he thought would be several months' work. In fact, he never left and remained as ballet master with the Irish National Ballet for the entire 17 years of its existence. From an early stage in its foundation, David became highly effective in assisting Joan Denise Moriarty with setting up the company and approached his role with an uncompromising vigour.
He brought with him an impressive contact book and his presence made it easier for the Irish National Ballet to attract major international stars.
Under David's guidance several dancers went on to form successful international careers, including Anna Donovan, Kathleen Smith, Babil Gandara and Richard Collins.
Of the many standout productions during his tenure were Lugh of the Golden Arm, Yerma, Medusa, Oscar (on the life of Oscar Wilde) and The Playboy of the Western World, which played to full houses and critical acclaim in Dublin, New York and London. While Joan Denise Moriarty choreographed, David Gordon was integral to the staging and maintenance of the company's repertoire during those years and toured extensively with the company both nationally and internationally.
When the decision was taken to axe the funding for the Irish National Ballet, David felt the repercussions very forcibly. Yet he decided to remain in Cork, where he was well known as both a flamboyant and endearing figure, easily recognisable by his balletic pose, flowing shawls and silver jewellery. Cork embraced him, and he, in turn, responded positively to the personality of Cork, becoming affectionately known as 'mother' Gordon.
The second phase of his career began with the demise of the Irish National Ballet in 1989 and saw him work as a freelance choreographer and director. He worked extensively with the Irish Operatic Repertory Company, most notably on The Merry Widow, and also with the Everyman Palace Theatre, The Cork Opera House, and many musical societies throughout Munster.
He applied the same work ethic and rigorous approach to each production, and treated everyone, from the prima ballerina to stagehand, with the same respect and professional courtesy. In social terms, he became an important pioneering figure within Cork's gay community, cutting an uncompromising and colourful gait through 1970s Ireland.
Suffice to say through his example many young people found the courage to be themselves at a time in Ireland when society as a whole was decidedly less tolerant. In recent years, he became artist in residence for the Cork Gay Community Project, choreographing the annual pantomime with the same work ethic he had brought to full-scale professional productions. When illness struck, David took it on as if it were a production to be carefully choreographed and approached it with style, panache and good humour.
He is survived by his brothers Jackie and Carl, nieces and nephews, and wide circle of friends, who were by his side throughout his illness, including Tony Doherty, Larry Higgins, Frank Hickey, Eddie Garvey and Jim O Sullivan.
David Gordon: born September 7th 1939; died August 16th, 2007