After hearing that her cancer had become malignant, Bill and Anna agreed to do a series of interviews. Over six hours were spent together last fall. This excerpt was chosen for this occasion in fond remembrance of Anna, her wit, and her Southern charm.

A few years ago I ambitiously began a project to write a book about Ida Rolf. I periodically interviewed people who had known her, trying to get some insight into her work, its development, and people’s response to her. Over time, the project was abandoned, but in the course of it, I collected some stories worth re-telling. Here are some of them.