It’s my birthday today and it was my main man @mikewkuhn bday last week and we finally got an insta together for @thehudsondusters so if you want to see some of our work and make 2 old dads happy go give us a follow. Thank you!
My beautiful mother in the New York Times. Full article in bio. Janet Panetta, 74, Dies; Admired Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher
She overcame childhood polio to become a dancer with American Ballet Theater, then taught contemporary dancers and members of Pina Bausch’s acclaimed company.
Janet Panetta passed away peacefully on December 2nd. 10 days before her 75th birthday.
A few days before that we moved her from the hospital to hospice, and I could tell that she was nervous so I rode in the ambulance with her and we held hands the entire ride. I told her she was going somewhere more comfortable and she seemed to like that idea. We listened to Swan Lake and watched videos of Rocco. She hummed along to Tchaikovsky and took breaks to whisper “he’s perfect” about Rocco. Unbeknownst to me this was the last time I would see my mother awake and I’ll cherish that moment for the rest of my life.
I think back to when I was just a little kid laying on the floor of dance class. Many of you know me from way back then. I remember the excitement of the end of class when the bars were put away and the dancers flew across the room making the wood floor shake. I remember being in awe of how she could control an entire studio full of dancers. How she could spot technique and correct it in a sea of people. Even as a child I knew she was a force of nature. As inspiring a person as I’ve ever met in my life. And she was my mom.
She taught me I could be an artist.
She taught me how to love and be passionate.
And she taught me that I have one life to live and I have to live it to the fullest.
My heart breaks as I write this, as I know so many hearts are breaking reading it. My mom impacted so many people from different walks of life and from all over the world, and I know all of you are struggling to understand what a world without her will be like. I am too. But that’s not what my mom would want. She would want to be celebrated. She would want to show you pictures of her baby grandson Rocco and his beautiful mother Audrey. She would want all of her dancers to succeed in an art form that’s near impossible to survive in. She would want my father Jeffrey not to worry so much and enjoy his life. And she would want all of her loved ones to live life to the fullest and carry on her legacy everywhere they went. Let’s do our best to give her what she would want.
Rest in peace mama.
Photo x Susan Salinger
