Sonya was my constant companion. As I am a Russian dancer and choreographer with my own company of dancers Sonya nearly always attended my rehearsals. She would place herself on a pile or Russian shawls in the dance studio and watch every move the dancers made. She also attended my balalaika orchestra rehearsals and loved the sound of Russian folk music.
She died on a trip to Prescott Arizona where a Russian dance troupe was performing. A four hour drive from our home in Tucson.
Sonya had been vicously attacked by two greyhounds last spring but survived and spent 3 months in recovery. She had also just developed vestibular syndrome and was on medication but her vet said it was ok for her to take the trip.
We were in a motel 6 across the street from Yavapai College where the performance was to be held. In the afternoon I walked Sonya around the College theater in hopes of seeing some of the dancers. I guess she was not to make it. She suddenly fell in a convulsion. I picked her up and carried her to the cross light to cross over to the motel. She then had a second convulsion gave a pitiful cry and died in my arms.
I attended the performance that night as I know she would have wanted me to. And Sonya died in close proximity to the Russian dance that she so loved to watch.
Sonya was known far and wide and had friends all over the world. A Russian poet friend of mine just sent an email to me that his latest book has just come off the press in Moscow recounting his experiences visiting Tucson .. and Sonya’s picture is included in the book. I drove back to Tucson with her in the trunk and now she is buried in my garden surrounded by cactus.
When I walk the trails
around my house in the foothills
overlooking the city of Tucson
I still can see her dancing
by my side.
Nijinsky {Richard Holden}