Paula Rosemary Caputo
Paula died peacefully in Ketchum, Idaho on August 8, 2015 at the home of her eldest daughter Alex Sundali. She was 85 years old. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 5, 1930 to Eugene and Velma Caputo, Paula grew up in Ambridge, Pennsylvania along with her sister Felisa. As a child Paula showed exceptional talent and ability in ballet. At the age of nine she was asked to join the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo when they passed through Pittsburg, but her mother refused to let her leave home to tour the world at such a young age.
At 14 Paula graduated high school early and joined the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera as a soloist. After four years she moved to New York City and worked at a variety of odd jobs until, at 22, she was hired by the New York City Ballet. After an intense year learning dozens of new roles, including a solo role created for her by choreographer-in-residence Jerome Robbins, Paula suffered a foot injury that ended her career at NYCB. Nonetheless, she was able to dance with the New York City Opera Ballet and the Charles Weidman Dance Theater.
In 1957, Paula married Gus Babalis and moved to Snedens Landing where they raised their three daughters. She taught ballet, choreographed musicals at high schools, and from 1977 to 1979 served as Project and Associate Director of The National Association for Regional Ballet in New York City. She went on to work for her brother in law, television producer Nick Vanoff, as an assistant producer on a number of television specials including Baryshnikov on Broadway, The Big Show, and various Bob Hope specials. She also wrote a monthly column for Dance Magazine.
Paula and Gus divorced in 1983, and Paula moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where she lived for the next 32 years. In 1988 she created Summerdance, a three-week workshop culminating in a weekend of performances by students and guest artists from NYCB, the Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Summerdance provided much needed opportunities for aspiring dancers to learn from seasoned professionals. The faculty included Jacques d’Amboise, Edward Villella, Christopher d’Amboise, Ann Reinking, and Mimi Paul.
Paula was a woman of grace and generosity - a wonderful and unique presence with an irreverent and ironic sense of humor. She will be deeply missed and always remembered by those who loved her.
She is survived by daughters Alex Sundali, Mia Hipp, and Lara McLean; grandchildren Anja, Taylor, and Daniel Sundali; and nephew Nick Vanoff Jr, his wife Kate, and grandnieces Marina and Katherine. A service and burial were held at the Ketchum Cemetery on August 14, 2015