Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-24
BY AMELIA YOUNG
star Staff Writer

As a promoter of the bal
let, Mrs. James M. Johnston
has a special pipeline to pub
lie taste in her baseball-ex-
ecutive husband.
Although q trustee of the
Washington National Ballet
Foundation, MIR. Johnston
(prominent financier and
chairman Of the board of the
Washington Senators) is not
what you'd call a ballet en-
thuSiaSt.
His wife, on the other
hand, glamorous blond Glad
US Johnston, has spent most
Of her life immersed in the
dance.
Born in Costa Rica, she
studied ballet from the age
Of 10; founded her own COM
pany and school in Panama
in 1885; Photographed, pro-
duced and staged scores of
ballets there over a 25-year
period, and-most satisfying
Of all to her - turned an
apathetic public into an
audience.
Her husband, now slowly
warming up to the art, SYM
bolizes to her a large poten-
tial ballet following not yet
wooed and won.
Mrs. Johnston frequently
asks his opinion Of ballet
productions, she said, land
! listen very closely to what
he says. He represents a
group of people who have
the same taste, people who
are not used to ballet as I
am but whose reaction is
very important"
"The Public You Have"
Clearly, Mrs. Johnston Is
no drawing-room recluse
who presumes the arts were
meant for the privileged
few. Her non-exclusive atti-
tude, her "great belief that
you must regard and please
the public you have-it is
even logic to do So" current
ly applies to the nations
capital via the Washington
Ballet Company.
Teacher Of the pre-ballet
classes at the Washington
School of Ballet Cher pupils
include Caroline Kennedy,
she serves as costumer and
artistic adviser for most
of the company's produc-
tons. Those who attended
the balletS-in-the-round re-
Gently staged at Arena The
alter saw about 80 examples
of her handiwork, mostly
turned out in the basement
of her Garfield terrace resi-
dence.
TIE keep the cost down, she
bought reams and reams Of
all-white chiffon, then dyed
the material herself and
strung 1t around the house
to dry. "Our place looked
like a japanese silk shop" she
said.
Ballet production in WASH
ington, with the limited
stages and limited funds, Is
somewhat frustrating after
her years in Panama. She
went there as the wife of q
Panamanian diplomat and
had access to government
officials, including the Presi-
dent.
Challenge and Opportunity
Eager to establish a ballet
company, she Immediately
looked into the facilities
found the National Theater
in a state of disrepair, serv-
ing as a movie house, and a
public generally disintereSted
in the performing arts.
But the challenge was
equaled by almost unre-
stricted opportunity. The
President not only gave her
his permission to renovate
the theater, but sent her to
New York on a shopping trip
with the government con-
troller, Mr.. Augusta Gull
lermo Arrange (the present
Panamanian Amb assador
here).
Mrs. Johnston then
Gladys Heurtematte - COM
pleted that project in a year,
went on to build up a COM
pany that later toured Central
America and earned her the
title, "the Mother Of Central
American Ballet" One Of her
most treasured photographs,
in q large collection, is a pic
ture of working class fam
lilies lined up to get gallery
tickets for a Gladys Heurte-
rTYN- -