Yvonne Mounsey, whose ballet career as dancer, choreographer, and teacher spanned eight decades, died September 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness. She was perhaps best known for her roles as principal dancer for New York City Ballet (NYCB) under George Balanchine. Mounsey was among the first dancers invited to join NYCB. Her most notable roles included the Queen in “The Cage†(Robbins), the Siren in “Prodigal Son†(Balanchine), the Harp in “Fanfare†(Robbins), and The Woman from His Past in “Lilac Garden†(Tudor).
In 1965 Mounsey and her family moved to Los Angeles where she began teaching ballet. Eventually taking over the school, renamed Westside Academy of Dance, she formed a decades-long partnership and deep friendship with Rosemary Valaire (dec. 1998). The school’s res
ident ballet company Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, began performances of “The Nutcracker†in 1972 and both “The Nutcracker†and Westside Ballet’s Spring performances have delighted audiences for decades, including the past 12 years at the Wadsworth Theater in Brentwood.
