Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Alan Swerdlow, John Sills

Letters: Johaar Mosaval obituary

Johaar Mosaval in John Cranko's Pineapple Poll.
Johaar Mosaval in John Cranko's Pineapple Poll. Photograph: Johaar Mosaval's Private Collection

The dancer Johaar Mosaval and I first met when I was an extra in Swan Lake in Liverpool in 1958. We remained friends: his last letter arrived in 2021 with a press cutting showing Cyril Ramaphosa investing him with an honour.

One evening when the Royal Ballet was performing at Inverness, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, came. It was shortly after his mother had died. When he was presented to her she handed him a small bouquet of heather she had brought to acknowledge his bereavement.
Alan Swerdlow

Johaar Mosaval was a friend of the Perse (School) Players producer Charlie (John) Tanfield, in Cambridge. In 1957 I was playing Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Johaar helped me with make-up. Unfortunately his efforts were done in ballet style, and Charlie did not approve – I had to be made up again in traditional style.
John Sills

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.