
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 5, 1993                   TAG: 9312050104
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DANCER PHILIP SWEATMAN DIES

Philip R. Sweatman an accomplished dancer who spent the last few years of his life trying to help inform the public about AIDS - died Friday. He was 41.

Sweatman, of Roanoke, studied at the San Francisco Ballet School, and the School of the American Ballet and Harkness Ballet School in New York City. He performed with the Harkness Ballet, the Les Grandes Balletes Canadiens and the Pennsylvania Ballet.

His professional credits included musical performances in "Gone With The Wind," "The Bobby Gentry Show," and "Peter Pan." He was the featured dancer in the film "Dark Secrets of Harvest Home" with Bette Davis.

Sweatman also served as a guest dancer and teacher at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Hollins College, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Ballet.

In an October 1990 newspaper story, Sweatman went public with the fact he was infected with the AIDS virus. He hoped to make people more sensitive to the plight of those who feel they must keep their medical status a secret.

Memorial services for Sweatman will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Penhook United Methodist Church, Glade Hill.

by CNB