From Links today is an article about Phillip Otto, who danced with Milwaukee Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet (where he met his wife, Rachel Butler-Otto), and Pacific Northwest Ballet from which he retired and went on to run PNB's community outreach program in the public schools.

He's now to become Artistic Director of Community Ballet in Huntsville, Alabama, and Rachel, who was a beautiful dancer and greatly missed when she retired, will become director of the school.

http://www.al.com/entertainment/huntsville....xml&coll=1

The quote, "it's hard to imagine Otto doing a pirouette" is ironic, because he had a preternatural ease when turning, and could toss off perfectly executed multiples with seemingly no preparation.

I'm glad to see he's still in the business, but sorry that he isn't here. And yes, I was so sorry to see Rachel Butler leave. I remember watching her in rehearsal when the company was first learning Sleeping Beauty, and thinking "I'll have fun watching her progress." Alas.