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- Raymonda
1977, Alberta Ballet: still performing, still loving it. The dancers of the Alberta Ballet at this time looked up to David in the same way as the National Ballet School students did in the late 50s and the Royal Ballet School in the 70s.
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- Raymonda
Introducing a new generation to the joys of pas de deux ...
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- Raymonda 3
Anchoring a young company meant wearing many hats, including principal dancer, lighting designer, choreographer, ballet master ...
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- Lecture-Dems
David had been doing "lecture-demonstrations" or "lecture-dems" for a long time by 1977; it had proven effective in the past, as with Ballet for All, so he continued with the Alberta Ballet.
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- All Tied Up
Morale in a ballet company is much the same as any other industry. When the dancers feel comfortable enough to incapacitate a respected international ballet master, you know something's working right.
“I first met Mr. Adams when I was a student at the Royal Ballet School, London England in 1974,” said Lambros Lambrou in 1993 when he was Artistic Director of Ballet Austin. “Our regular pas de deux intstructor was absent and Mr. Adams taught class. Naturally I had seen Mr. Adams on stage at Covent Garden numerous times. His partnering skills and powerful presence were his hallmark so, as a student, I was honored to have him as an instructor.
“Little did I know that both David and I would find ourselves working together under the direction of Mr. Brydon Paige with the Alberta Ballet Company two years later. Was asked to meet David at the airport!
“Having David as a ballet master was a challenge. Having David a a neighbour was fun. Being in a class taught by David was stimulating and inspiring, fun and at times ‘lethal’. Combinations that appeared simplue eventually tripped the strongest of dancers. However, when it came to the art of partnering, I would burst with anticipation at the prospect of being coached by one of the greatest partners in the world.
“David’s vast colelction of memorabilia from the dance world: photos, programs, reviews and anecdotes had to be prodded out of him, for he was quite shy and avoided being the cener of attraction at gatherings.
“I did not know David as a principal dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet or the National Ballet of Canada, both lofty accomplishments. I have read about him extensively and know of all his contributions to Canada and England.
“As I compose this letter about David my greatest memory of him is one of an elegant man who in a softened Canadian accent corrected me with a smile during a particularly gruelling rehearsal of the pas de deux fron The Sleeping Beauty, ‘Stand up on your own legs. Ballet can be a lot of fun that way.'”