Vija Vetra, Dancer/Choreographer/Teacher

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Resident at Westbeth since 1970

I was one of the first to move into Westbeth in February 1970, just in time for my 47th birthday. This year, on February 6, 2023, I celebrated my 100th birthday.

I remember the opening of Westbeth when I took part in choreographing a short intro piece for all of us dancers, followed by the dancers each offering a solo. Some of them are not in Westbeth anymore. The opening was on the 11th floor (then the Merce Cunningham Studio), which was decked out with red velvet material. We were allowed to take a piece of it after the ceremony. (I still have a piece of it that I cover my bed with.) We also had guests from the film world, Danny Kaye and Gregory Peck, since the first talking movie was demonstrated here.

Slowly our artists’ community started to build, and various activities were organized, such as literary evenings, concerts, art exhibitions in our gallery, where I also gave a few dance performances. Here at Westbeth, I opened my dance studio again, having moved it from the previous location on Sixth Avenue, and I taught classes in dances of India, modern dance, and yoga.

I recall a strange event: a knock on the door at midnight and my neighbor Toni, the painter, offering me her piano!! “Do I want one?” Indeed I had wanted one since my childhood when I had piano lessons from my concert pianist aunt—but had no piano at home to practice on. For that I had to visit my neighbor friend. So I had carried that wish for a piano all that time, and finally it was granted. In this artist community, you never know what else will surprise you.

In my performances at the gallery, I often collaborated with other Westbeth artists, such as R. Patrick Sullivan, an actor with a beautiful voice who read poetry by Tagore that I danced to. I also performed with Helen Duberstein reading her poems as I interpreted them in dance. And with the poet Ree Dragonette and the musician William Blacklock. All of them have parted from this world. It is sad to see so many of our friends leave us, and to witness how old age is slowly taking over, bending us over and slowing us down. But new artists are filling the empty spaces, and life goes on.