Article May 16, 2011 Issue

Shall we dance?

A pas de deux on and off stage

By Kim Shippey, Senior Writer

Although Margarita de Saá and John White might blanch (modestly) at the prospect, their lives and loves as ballet dancers and teachers could just make a good movie—in the vein, perhaps, of The Red Shoes (1948), or Mao’s Last Dancer (2009), which they both enjoyed at the cinema.

The Whites are as well known in the village of Narberth, a suburb of Philadelphia, where their Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet is situated, as they are in First Church of Christ, Scientist, Philadelphia, where they regularly attend services.

John is upfront about his faith. “I’m eternally grateful that Christian Science has been my constant companion,” he says. And Margarita is equally grateful and resolute: “I want to be a better Christian person; to be helpful to my family and friends; to inspire others to love classical dance as I do; and to be a more effective healer.”

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The economics of living love