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Peter Frame, Ballet Dancer and Instructor, Dies at 61 Peter Frame, Ballet Dancer and Instructor, Dies at 61
(about 11 hours later)
Peter Frame, a former New York City Ballet principal dancer who became a mentor to young dancers, died on Thursday outside his apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the police said. He was 61.Peter Frame, a former New York City Ballet principal dancer who became a mentor to young dancers, died on Thursday outside his apartment building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the police said. He was 61.
He died by suicide, the medical examiner’s office said. The cause was suicide, the medical examiner’s office said.
Mr. Frame was a dancer with the New York City Ballet for 14 years and taught at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan, where he created a dynamic strength training class for male dancers.Mr. Frame was a dancer with the New York City Ballet for 14 years and taught at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan, where he created a dynamic strength training class for male dancers.
A highlight of his career came in 1986 when Mr. Frame — then a soloist with the New York City Ballet — was selected to restage a rare piece of George Balanchine choreography.A highlight of his career came in 1986 when Mr. Frame — then a soloist with the New York City Ballet — was selected to restage a rare piece of George Balanchine choreography.
It was originally performed by the modern dancer Paul Taylor in “Episodes,” a 1959 collaboration between Mr. Balanchine and Martha Graham set to the music of Anton Webern.It was originally performed by the modern dancer Paul Taylor in “Episodes,” a 1959 collaboration between Mr. Balanchine and Martha Graham set to the music of Anton Webern.
After Mr. Taylor stopped performing the solo, Mr. Balanchine dropped it from the ballet in 1961. But 25 years later, Mr. Taylor revived the solo, set to Webern’s Variations (Op. 30), and taught it to Mr. Frame. It was an opportunity Mr. Frame called one of the most exciting in his career.After Mr. Taylor stopped performing the solo, Mr. Balanchine dropped it from the ballet in 1961. But 25 years later, Mr. Taylor revived the solo, set to Webern’s Variations (Op. 30), and taught it to Mr. Frame. It was an opportunity Mr. Frame called one of the most exciting in his career.
Wearing a white leotard and dancing barefoot, Mr. Frame performed the intricate, tangled stream of choreography to music so challenging it was unable to be counted.Wearing a white leotard and dancing barefoot, Mr. Frame performed the intricate, tangled stream of choreography to music so challenging it was unable to be counted.
“I’m so happy with this,” he said of the role in an interview with The New York Times in 1986. “I love it. I finally feel as if I’ve got all my vitamins. There comes a time when you have to grow.”“I’m so happy with this,” he said of the role in an interview with The New York Times in 1986. “I love it. I finally feel as if I’ve got all my vitamins. There comes a time when you have to grow.”
Mr. Taylor, a renowned modern dance choreographer, died on Wednesday, a day before Mr. Frame. He was 88.Mr. Taylor, a renowned modern dance choreographer, died on Wednesday, a day before Mr. Frame. He was 88.
In 2014, Mr. Frame passed on the eight-minute solo to dancers at the Miami City Ballet, calling it a “thrilling, exhausting experience” that was “worth every moment.” The solo has not been performed at the New York City Ballet since Mr. Frame was in the role, a spokeswoman for the School of American Ballet said on Saturday.In 2014, Mr. Frame passed on the eight-minute solo to dancers at the Miami City Ballet, calling it a “thrilling, exhausting experience” that was “worth every moment.” The solo has not been performed at the New York City Ballet since Mr. Frame was in the role, a spokeswoman for the School of American Ballet said on Saturday.
Mr. Frame had relished his chance to work with Mr. Taylor, whom he described as relaxed and attentive to him. “It was like planting a seed and nurturing it,” he said in the 1986 interview. “He made me feel comfortable with myself, which is so important here.”Mr. Frame had relished his chance to work with Mr. Taylor, whom he described as relaxed and attentive to him. “It was like planting a seed and nurturing it,” he said in the 1986 interview. “He made me feel comfortable with myself, which is so important here.”
After studying at the School of American Ballet, Mr. Frame joined the City Ballet and was elevated to a principal in 1987, after his first performance in “Episodes.”After studying at the School of American Ballet, Mr. Frame joined the City Ballet and was elevated to a principal in 1987, after his first performance in “Episodes.”
In 1993, Mr. Frame joined the faculty at the School of American Ballet, where he had studied when he was 18, and taught at Ballet Academy East starting in 1999.In 1993, Mr. Frame joined the faculty at the School of American Ballet, where he had studied when he was 18, and taught at Ballet Academy East starting in 1999.
His conditioning class at the School of American Ballet, which included male dancers aged 14 through 18, focused on building the strength to lift a female partner and deploy that power gracefully, his students said.His conditioning class at the School of American Ballet, which included male dancers aged 14 through 18, focused on building the strength to lift a female partner and deploy that power gracefully, his students said.
At the end of each class, Mr. Frame would talk with students to check how they were doing inside and outside of the studio.At the end of each class, Mr. Frame would talk with students to check how they were doing inside and outside of the studio.
“He wanted so much for his dancers to be healthy, physically and mentally,” said Harrison Coll, a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet, who was in Mr. Frame’s class as a teenager. “He taught me how to breathe through anything that was troubling me.”“He wanted so much for his dancers to be healthy, physically and mentally,” said Harrison Coll, a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet, who was in Mr. Frame’s class as a teenager. “He taught me how to breathe through anything that was troubling me.”
Jonathan Stafford, a faculty member at the School of American Ballet, said a back injury had hindered Mr. Frame’s career in the early ‘90s and led him to concentrate on strength training and injury prevention.Jonathan Stafford, a faculty member at the School of American Ballet, said a back injury had hindered Mr. Frame’s career in the early ‘90s and led him to concentrate on strength training and injury prevention.
“He just wanted to make sure that never happened to any of his students,” said Mr. Stafford, who was once a principal dancer at the City Ballet.“He just wanted to make sure that never happened to any of his students,” said Mr. Stafford, who was once a principal dancer at the City Ballet.
Peter Frame was born on April 16, 1957, in Charleston, W.Va., the son of Marvan and Mary Elizabeth Frame. Paul Frame, his twin brother who also performed with the City Ballet, said they were inspired by a childhood ballet teacher.Peter Frame was born on April 16, 1957, in Charleston, W.Va., the son of Marvan and Mary Elizabeth Frame. Paul Frame, his twin brother who also performed with the City Ballet, said they were inspired by a childhood ballet teacher.
Mr. Frame also taught his students to deal with emotional struggles that could diminish their love for the art form, his brother said.Mr. Frame also taught his students to deal with emotional struggles that could diminish their love for the art form, his brother said.
“He taught technique, but he also taught dancers to become the emotions behind their dancing,” he said. “He empowered the dancers to look at what was holding them back and name it.”“He taught technique, but he also taught dancers to become the emotions behind their dancing,” he said. “He empowered the dancers to look at what was holding them back and name it.”
Mr. Frame is survived by four siblings: James, Paul, Jon and Miriam.Mr. Frame is survived by four siblings: James, Paul, Jon and Miriam.
Mr. Frame offered encouragement and empathy to students in a way that powered them forward in the rigorous world of ballet, said Elizabeth Walker, a faculty member at Ballet Academy East.Mr. Frame offered encouragement and empathy to students in a way that powered them forward in the rigorous world of ballet, said Elizabeth Walker, a faculty member at Ballet Academy East.
“As a teacher,” Ms. Walker said, “he saw the soul of the young dancer and really called it forth.”“As a teacher,” Ms. Walker said, “he saw the soul of the young dancer and really called it forth.”