Victor Castelli (1952-2005).

Victor Castelli, an expressive soloist with NYCB who later became a ballet master with the company, died at the age of 52 on February 8 from complications due to liver cancer. A favorite of both Robbins and Balanchine, he created the jaunty solo role in the "Gigue" section of Balanchine's Mozartiana. Castelli also excelled as the doomed Poet in La Sonnambula, as the easy-going "green boy" in Dances at a Gathering, and as the frustrated Door in Variations pour une Porte et un Soupir.

Jean-Pierre Frohlich, a fellow NYCB ballet master and a close friend of Castelli's, recalls the dancer's joi de vivre, as well as his elegance, beautifully elongated lines, and patience. "One of my strongest memories is watching him learn Prodigal Son from Balanchine," said Frohlich. "It was fascinating, because Balanchine explained everything to him. Near the end, when he is leaning against the table, Balanchine used to say, 'Think of Jesus Christ on the cross.'"

A dancer whom Robbins relied on to experiment with his choreography, Castelli later became a valuable assistant to the choreographer, working with him on Jerome Robbins' Broadway and traveling to the Paris Op6ra Ballet to stage Robbins' works there. Castelli was appointed ballet master in 1990, when he retired from dancing. "He was always true to the creator, to get the look that the creator wanted," said Frohlich. After Robbins' death, Castelli served on the advisory committee of the Robbins Rights Trust. New York City Ballet dedicated its February 13 performance of Mozartiana to the memory of Castelli.