Ballerina killed in road accident going home
WASHINGTON D.C. - Twenty-year-old Mary Beatrice Saludares was a star at The Washington Ballet, when her life was cut short by a fatal dash across a busy highway in Edgewood, Maryland.
Saludares was struck by a car along Route 24 a little past 10 in the evening, exactly one week ago. The Washington Ballet was to perform at the Howard Community College in nearby Columbia.
A grieving Washington Ballet cancelled its performances.
“Mary was a really gifted dancer,” Septime Webre, Washington Ballet Artistic Director, told ABS-CBN’s Balitang America.
“She came with a very fine technique, a beautiful ballet technique that she learned growing up in the Philippines,” he said.
Saludares began dancing at age 6 under Sofia Elizalde and Raul Sauz at Steps Dance Studio. She received the highest Royal Academy of Dance award in 2006 and became the first Filipino entry in the Adeline Genee International Ballet Competition.
She attended the School of American Ballet in New York and the Washington School of Ballet last year. She was later selected to join The Washington Ballet Company for its 2008-2009 season.
“She had that foundation but she also came with a certain joy and passion about her dancing, and really this generous amplitude radiated throughout her dancing,” Webre recalls.
Extraordinary Qualities
“She brought all those special qualities and that really attracted Mary to all of us when she came, first at the Washington School of Ballet and then after studying here for a year, it was based on those extraordinary qualities that I then invited her to the Washington Ballet Company,” he explained.
Saludares was determined to make it in the rarefied world of international ballet.
“Mary had a really bright future in the world of ballet and the world of dance,” Webre stressed.
He said Saludares was in The Washington Ballet Studio Company which he described as an “apprentice company”.
“She danced with The Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center. So she danced with the quarter ballet in our biggest productions and separately the Studio Company does their own repertoire. In the Studio Company works she was doing solo and principal roles,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“Before she passed away she had a very big premier and danced the leading role in Balanchine’s “Ballet Who Cares?”. Last Fall I created a new pas de deux for her created for her talent,” Webre revealed.
“I think she had a real future. She was 20 years old, strong technique and growing in artistry. She had impact on stage,” he declared.
Going Home
Saludares’ uncle Richard Suyosa was the nearest direct relative in the East Coast. He rushed from Long Island, New York after hearing of the accident last Friday.
She lived with her uncle’s family while studying in New York.
He was asked by Mary’s parents to arrange for the remains to be flown back to Manila. Initially, they wanted a cremation and the ashes flown back; but after he the body, Suyosa said they opted to bring her home in a casket.
Suyosa approached the Migrant Heritage Commission to seek legal assistance. The police questioned the driver of the Chevrolet Impala, Robert Kane, but released him soon after.
“We have made arrangements with The Washington Ballet to get a statement from Mary’s companions who may be witnesses,” explained lawyer Arnedo Valera, MHC executive director.
“We will do a publication that is usually resorted to by personal injury lawyers to encourage people who were there at the time and may have seen what happened, to come out and give a statement,” Valera told ABS-CBN News.
“Maryland law is very clear that if there is contributory negligence, any claim for damages may be thrown out,” he explained.
But the MHC is also helping raise funds to help pay the mortuary and cost of shipping Saludares’ remains home.
Mary’s elder brother Brian (she was the youngest and only girl in the Saludares brood) arrived earlier this week to escort the remains home. He was joined by a cousin from Los Angeles.
The Washington Ballet is extending financial assistance but it wasn’t enough to cover the expenses of repatriating Salundares’ body. Thus, Suyosa reached out to the Fil-Am community here.
“She was a masayahing tao, she has a strong character. When a problem appears like it can not be solved, she finds a way to solve it. She never complained. People will remember her as a happy person. Even in difficult times, she will give you hope,” he told ABS-CBN News.
Philippine Minister Carlos Sorreta said the Philippine Embassy was aware of Saludares’ plight. He said Ambassador Willy Gaa has already ordered the Embassy staff to assist Suyosa and Brian Salundares.
The Fil-Am community is responding to the appeals.
They assured that Mary Saludares will soon go home one last time - a final tribute for a Filipina who’s given her country much pride and honor.
Saludares was struck by a car along Route 24 a little past 10 in the evening, exactly one week ago. The Washington Ballet was to perform at the Howard Community College in nearby Columbia.
A grieving Washington Ballet cancelled its performances.
“Mary was a really gifted dancer,” Septime Webre, Washington Ballet Artistic Director, told ABS-CBN’s Balitang America.
“She came with a very fine technique, a beautiful ballet technique that she learned growing up in the Philippines,” he said.
Saludares began dancing at age 6 under Sofia Elizalde and Raul Sauz at Steps Dance Studio. She received the highest Royal Academy of Dance award in 2006 and became the first Filipino entry in the Adeline Genee International Ballet Competition.
She attended the School of American Ballet in New York and the Washington School of Ballet last year. She was later selected to join The Washington Ballet Company for its 2008-2009 season.
“She had that foundation but she also came with a certain joy and passion about her dancing, and really this generous amplitude radiated throughout her dancing,” Webre recalls.
Extraordinary Qualities
“She brought all those special qualities and that really attracted Mary to all of us when she came, first at the Washington School of Ballet and then after studying here for a year, it was based on those extraordinary qualities that I then invited her to the Washington Ballet Company,” he explained.
Saludares was determined to make it in the rarefied world of international ballet.
“Mary had a really bright future in the world of ballet and the world of dance,” Webre stressed.
He said Saludares was in The Washington Ballet Studio Company which he described as an “apprentice company”.
“She danced with The Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center. So she danced with the quarter ballet in our biggest productions and separately the Studio Company does their own repertoire. In the Studio Company works she was doing solo and principal roles,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“Before she passed away she had a very big premier and danced the leading role in Balanchine’s “Ballet Who Cares?”. Last Fall I created a new pas de deux for her created for her talent,” Webre revealed.
“I think she had a real future. She was 20 years old, strong technique and growing in artistry. She had impact on stage,” he declared.
Going Home
Saludares’ uncle Richard Suyosa was the nearest direct relative in the East Coast. He rushed from Long Island, New York after hearing of the accident last Friday.
She lived with her uncle’s family while studying in New York.
He was asked by Mary’s parents to arrange for the remains to be flown back to Manila. Initially, they wanted a cremation and the ashes flown back; but after he the body, Suyosa said they opted to bring her home in a casket.
Suyosa approached the Migrant Heritage Commission to seek legal assistance. The police questioned the driver of the Chevrolet Impala, Robert Kane, but released him soon after.
“We have made arrangements with The Washington Ballet to get a statement from Mary’s companions who may be witnesses,” explained lawyer Arnedo Valera, MHC executive director.
“We will do a publication that is usually resorted to by personal injury lawyers to encourage people who were there at the time and may have seen what happened, to come out and give a statement,” Valera told ABS-CBN News.
“Maryland law is very clear that if there is contributory negligence, any claim for damages may be thrown out,” he explained.
But the MHC is also helping raise funds to help pay the mortuary and cost of shipping Saludares’ remains home.
Mary’s elder brother Brian (she was the youngest and only girl in the Saludares brood) arrived earlier this week to escort the remains home. He was joined by a cousin from Los Angeles.
The Washington Ballet is extending financial assistance but it wasn’t enough to cover the expenses of repatriating Salundares’ body. Thus, Suyosa reached out to the Fil-Am community here.
“She was a masayahing tao, she has a strong character. When a problem appears like it can not be solved, she finds a way to solve it. She never complained. People will remember her as a happy person. Even in difficult times, she will give you hope,” he told ABS-CBN News.
Philippine Minister Carlos Sorreta said the Philippine Embassy was aware of Saludares’ plight. He said Ambassador Willy Gaa has already ordered the Embassy staff to assist Suyosa and Brian Salundares.
The Fil-Am community is responding to the appeals.
They assured that Mary Saludares will soon go home one last time - a final tribute for a Filipina who’s given her country much pride and honor.
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