Blissful tribute.

On March 13, dance luminaries celebrated Sally Brayley Bliss, retiring after 11 years as executive director of Dance St. Louis, in A Bliss Full Affair, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis.

Speakers included Carla Maxwell, Victoria Morgan, Tom Mossbrucker, David Parsons, and Edward Villella, who said, "I got to know her artistry first, but it's her humanity that finally moves you."

Performers included Elizabeth Parkinson and Stuart Capps of Movin' Out, Maia Wilkins and Willy Shives of the Joffrey Ballet, Tina LeBlanc and Gonzalo Garcia of San Francisco Ballet, Brian McGinnis of Parsons Dance Company, Antonio Douthit of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Kiln Cowan and James Jordan of Kansas City Ballet.

Former American Ballet Theatre dancers Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, who performed an excerpt from Tudor's Leaves Are Fading, summed it up: "Sally's been so generous with her commitment to dance. Being here is our way to give back to someone who's given so much."

Bliss, a Canadian, joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1955. She performed as principal dancer with the Metropolitan and New York City Operas, and as guest artist with ABT and the Joffrey Ballet. In 1969 she co-founded The Joffrey II Dancers, serving as artistic director until 1985 when she was appointed to the National Council of the Arts. At Dance St. Louis, Bliss expanded education and outreach programs and established an endowment.

Bliss will continue to administer the Antony Tudor Ballet Trust, a position created for her in Tudor's will. She says, "To me, Tudor is the great choreographer of the 20th century. When today's dancers perform his works, they become better artists, which makes me proud."