D.C. Ballet Master Also Had Comic Side

John Goding, 50, a founding member, ballet master and former principal dancer for the Washington Ballet, whose career with the company spanned more than 30 years, died July 10 at his vacation home in Cape Coral, Fla., after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He was an Ashburn resident.

Mr. Goding was recruited to the company by its founder, Mary Day, and remained a central figure in the group as it transformed into one of the country's best-known regional dance companies. Most notably, he originated roles in "Birds of Paradise," "In the Glow of the Night" and "Unknown Territory," all ballets by choreographer Choo-San Goh.

Describing a 1995 Washington Ballet performance of "Brother, Brother," former Washington Post dance critic Alan M. Kriegsman wrote that a duet between Goding and Ntsikelelo Cekwana "was notable for its economy of means, spare structure and imagery suggesting an intimate, soulful kinship between its protagonists, set to choral music by Antonio Vivaldi."

In recent years, Mr. Goding (pronounced GODD-ing) had continued to appear in Washington Ballet productions in such parts as Drosselmeyer in "The Nutcracker" and Captain Hook in "Peter Pan" and was praised for his comedic abilities.

After his early career as a principal dancer, Mr. Goding went on to become ballet master in 1998, making him one of the company's chief coaches and rehearsal leaders. In this role, he was known for his remarkable memory and attention to detail.

Most choreographers and directors have to take written notes during rehearsals and performances to remember corrections and directives to give the dancers, but Mr. Goding never wrote anything down. Instead, he had the unusual ability to watch a two-hour performance Friday evening and come to rehearsal Monday morning with a slew of meticulous observations and suggested changes in minute details of the dance.

The Washington Ballet's artistic director Septime Webre said Mr. Goding excelled at coaching dancers on partnering moves and such highly technical skills as pirouettes. Mr. Goding also choreographed several works for the company, including "Mysteries," set to the music of Sweet Honey in the Rock.

The youngest of five children, John Carl Goding was born Aug. 8, 1958, in Fort Campbell, Ky. His father was an Army equipment repairman, and he spent much of his childhood moving from city to city. Eventually, the family settled in Woodbridge, where Mr. Goding graduated from Gar-Field High School.

He had played the flute in his high school band and enrolled at Catholic University as a music major. In the late 1970s, he began attending dance classes at Woodbridge Ballet Arts School.

Survivors include his partner of more than 30 years, Cliff Thomson of Ashburn; his parents, Arthur and Dorothy Goding of Woodbridge; two sisters, Cynthia McGill of Dale City and Terri Lee Washburn of Columbia, S.C.; and two brothers, Robert M. Goding of Stafford and Arthur Goding Jr. of Corpus Christi, Tex.