BetteBack December 19, 1976: Did Bette Join The Ballet?

Salina Journal
December 19, 1976

Q: I’m a dedicated Bette Midler fan and have seen every show she’s done. Is it true that Bette has joined the New York City Ballet? – Donald Troise, Queens, N.Y.

A: It’s true that Bette will be joining the New York City Ballet – but not as a dancer. On January 27, she will debut , as Annie in a revival of director ‘ George Balanchine‘s “The Seven Deadly Sins,” a role made famous by Lotte Lenya. Lenya’s late husband, Kurt Weill, wrote the music, and playwright Bertolt Brecht the script for the original ballet, done in the 1930s. Balanchine chose Bette because “she has red hair and a good voice, and knows how to move.” Why would the divine Bette want to do a ballet? Miss M, it seems, has been a closet ballet fan for years and feels that “dance is the most magical of all the performing arts.” For Bette, working with Balanchine is “a dream come true.” The irrepressible singer says that she’s going to dance “as much as I can. And maybe sneak
in some of my own shtick as well ”

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