Monday, May 14, 2012

The Paintings Of Rachel Isadora

The multi-talented Rachel got her start in Knickerbocker Village. The show above extends to May 22nd
Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of six. She trained at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet under a Ford Foundation scholarship and she has danced professionally in New York City, Boston and London. Her oil paintings depict her love of dance. Ms. Isadora also lived in Africa for almost ten years and that experience, as well as living in New York City, has also become the focus of her paintings. Ms. Isadora has written and illustrated over 150 children’s books many of which have been set in the world of dance or set in Africa. These include Lili at Ballet, Max, Swan Lake, and At the Crossroads. In 2009, BalletRox, a Boston ballet company, created a ballet based upon her Caldecott Honor Award book Ben’s Trumpet. Other books of Ms. Isadora’s have been adapted to film, music and dance. Ms. Isadora’s oil paintings have been acquired by many private collectors.

5 comments:

  1. Went to the show and LOVED it. I was a friend of Rachel's from the world of ballet and heard about her paintings through a dancer with American Ballet Theater. I thought they were fabulous and I am so proud to have known her....Go to the 2/20 Gallery at 220 W. 16th Street before it closes on the 22nd. She is the only one I know who has been successful at painting dance....GO!

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    1. Yes, Rachel (formerly Rosenthal.....Isadora is her middle name), lived at Knickerbocker Village in the 50s. I know because she lived in my building, F. My parents were good friends with her parents, Rita and Al. Rachel has had a remarkable career in the world of dance, children's books and now, painting. Her dance paintings are exploding and she will be having many upcoming one man shows. I know currently her cousin who keeps me informed about her achievements. She's a very hard worker and deserves great respect.....she is anything but a "fancy lady". Faith Rebowitz

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  3. Rachel is not a fancy lady as implied by that comment. I went to the gallery showing her paintings being a fan of hers for years. I am also an avid dance fan and loved the show. I bought a wonderful painting and am looking forward to hanging it in my apartment, in Seward Park. Rachel lived in Knickerboker Village because my cousin, Lois, stayed friendly with her over the years. Lois lived in Knickerbocker Village when Rachel did and they went to Camp Edalia together.

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