Obituaries - March 10, 2000

Janet Reed; Ballerina, Dance Teacher

Janet Reed, 83, ballerina and teacher who first achieved fame in the San Francisco Ballet. Born in Tolo, Ore., Reed studied ballet in Portland, Ore., and in San Francisco, where she was the troupe’s leading ballerina from 1937 to 1941. She earned nationwide acclaim in 1939 with her starring role in the San Francisco Opera Ballet’s “Swan Lake.” The petite redhead went on to dance with American Ballet Theatre, for which she memorably performed in Jerome Robbins’ first ballet, “Fancy Free,” and with the New York City Ballet. Reed was widely acclaimed for comic story ballets but also excelled in classic dance works. She later served as the New York City Ballet’s ballet mistress and taught at several colleges. In 1974 she became founding artistic director of the Pacific Northwest Dance Company in Seattle, which evolved into the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She also staged dances for Seattle Opera. Returning to her San Francisco beginnings in 1983, she co-hosted the San Francisco Ballet’s 50th anniversary observance with Gene Kelly. On Feb. 28 in Seattle after a stroke.