Haydée, Marcia (1939—)
Haydée, Marcia (1939—)
Brazilian dancer and director. Name variations: Marcia Haydee. Born Marcia Pereira da Silva in Niteroi, Brazil, in 1939; studied with Yvonne Gama e Silva, Yucco Lindberg, and Vaslav Veltchek, as well as the Sadler's Wells Ballet (1954–55).
One of the greatest ballerinas of her day, Marcia Haydée made her professional debut with the Ballet Madeleine Rosay in Quitandinha, Petropolis, in 1953; that same year, she danced with the Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal. In 1957, she joined the Grand Ballet of Marquis de Cuevas, soon becoming a soloist. Four years later, in 1961, she moved to the Stuttgart Opera Ballet. There, under the direction of John Cranko, Haydée created roles in Romeo and Juliet (1962), Onegin (1965), Carmen (1971), and Initials R.B.M.E. (1972). She was appointed artistic director of the Stuttgart Ballet in 1976 and set about expanding the repertoire. Under Haydée, renowned choreographers, such as Maurice Béjart and William Forsythe, created new works. Moreover, she fostered a new generation of talented dancers. Haydée retired from the Stuttgart in 1996, after 35 years.