Victoria Leigh Posted February 23, 2001 Share Posted February 23, 2001 I'm stealing a topic from the General Discussion board here, with one major change: What dancers do you wish you could have seen who were not dancing in your lifetime and are NOT seen on video, and why are you choosing them? Link to comment
gottadance07 Posted February 23, 2001 Share Posted February 23, 2001 I would definitely have to say Pavlova, of course. I don't know a whole lot about her, except for that she is one of the greatest ballerinas ever. Also, I would love to see Marie Tallchief, Tanaquil LeClerq, and Margot Fonteyn. I haven't ever seen videos of them, but there might be. I said Maria Tallchief and Tanaquil Le Clerq because I would love to see true Balanchine ballerinas! Margot Fonteyn is in her own seperate category by herself! Oh, and I think that the very number one person I would have loved to have seen is George Balanchine himself. I have always loved dancing Balanchine technique, and I have read every book written about him (well maybe not all of them )and he was incredible. Hmmm that's all I can think of right now, at least of dancers who aren't on video. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 23, 2001 Share Posted February 23, 2001 There are some film clips of Pavlova that survive. And while Fonteyn is well-represented on video, Tallchief and LeClercq are still confined to film in library collections. In fact, Tallchief introduced Rudolf Nureyev to American TV audiences (Bell Telephone Hour) in "Flower Festival in Genzano" pas de deux, Nureyev replacing an ill Erik Bruhn. Link to comment
Guest bluebird Posted February 23, 2001 Share Posted February 23, 2001 I'd have to say Pavlova as well. That is...I'd like to be there when she danced. I've seen the film clips...& ....I have to say it....I was disappointed. I guess the film really didn't pick up her essence & technically...well...again...I was disappointed..even though I knew she was not known for her technical skills, I did expect more. So, I'd have to say Pavlova for sure, because I've heard of so many (including non-dancers like Yehudi Menuhin) who were really mesmerized by her dancing. Betty Oliphant, one of the founders of the National Ballet in Canada looked absolutely enraptured describing Pavlova (& Miss. O is not one to be easily enraptured, from what I hear), so it's these kind of accounts by people I admire that make me wish that I could have actually seen Pavlova dance. I LOVE the famous picture of Pavlova with her swan, Jack wrapped around her neck. To me, that captured her essence (or what I think her essence to be) more than the film footage, which had that choppy look (I guess because of the period it was filmed in). Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 23, 2001 Share Posted February 23, 2001 You're right about many of the film clips of Pavlova having a herky-jerkyness to them - it's because they were originally filmed on old-time cellulose nitrate film and the stuff has a nasty tendency to break down, so to save whatever they could, film archivists had to cut out the bad film and rephotograph what was left on modern safety film. That and the fact that the film was cranked more slowly in the early days of movies, so if the films are shown on a modern projector, they will tend to be in high-speed. Link to comment
Guest jmichael Posted February 24, 2001 Share Posted February 24, 2001 I would say Tanaquil LeClerq also because I've heard so much about her and how much Balanchine loved her, but never seen her dancing before. She was practically the first true "Balanchine Ballerina". I think it would be interesting to see the begining of Balanchine's original style, and compare it to NYCB today. Link to comment
CygneDanois Posted February 24, 2001 Share Posted February 24, 2001 Taglioni and Karsavina. I also would like to have seen Lucille Grahn from the Royal Danish way back when. I've also heard good things about Irina Kolnikova (no, not Kolpakova). As far as I know, she isn't captured on videotape, and I doubt if she danced much into the '80s. Hope I'm not being intimidating . ------------------ CygneDanois Link to comment
Guest BalletDanzer Posted February 24, 2001 Share Posted February 24, 2001 I would have 2 say Fontayn cause they say that when she danced you couldn't go into a room without being in awe of her. They said that she didn't have the rite body tipe.A lot of dancers get that and I encourage them not to take it seriously. I would have liked to see her in swanlake or La Bayadere. ; ) ------------------ @ll!danZ8R Link to comment
Victoria Leigh Posted February 24, 2001 Author Share Posted February 24, 2001 BalletDanzer, your first post on this topic was deleted because it was not written in English. If you wish to post on this board please write so that we can understand you, including the use of upper case "I", "was" not "wuz", etc., and no computerese or slang that cannot be understood by our dancers from other countries. Punctuation is also very useful in trying to figure out the meaning of a post. Your post just above this one is better, however I strongly suggest that you look up the spelling for at least the famous dancers names and things like Swan Lake, not swanlake. [This message has been edited by Victoria Leigh (edited February 24, 2001).] Link to comment
Guest RozeToze Posted February 25, 2001 Share Posted February 25, 2001 As a gal who danced her role in "Pas de Quatre" and have only heard snippets of her other work...I wish I knew more about and could have seen Fanny Turito (spelling? I know that can't be right) I know she was known to be quite a little spunky thing, doing such things as not wearing the, er, proper undergarments under her layers of silk tulle tutus...(or so I've heard) and winking at the audience...NOT that I'm so risque, but rather that it's a nice change from the snotty, prim and proper image I sometimes imagine when I think of the ageless ballerinas of Taglioni and such's time Whitney Link to comment
Victoria Leigh Posted February 25, 2001 Author Share Posted February 25, 2001 Fanny Cerrito, Whitney There is a wonderful book called The Ballerinas. Probably not in print anymore, but I found it not too long ago in a second hand book store. The library should also have it. Also check out other books on ballet of the Romantic era, particularly those of Ivor Guest. [This message has been edited by Victoria Leigh (edited February 24, 2001).] Link to comment
Guest RozeToze Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 Thank you, Ms. Leigh I remember when my director was giving us a little bit of dance history, all of the girls remembered the names of the women's parts we were dancing by funny quirks... mine happened to be "Cherry Toes," and hence, my online nickname everywhere is "RozeToze," a little bit of a variation I'll check on the book next time I'm in the library! Whitney Link to comment
Guest pointe Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 Anna Pavlova's 'Dying Swan', Alexandra Danilova, and Maria Tallchief (especially her early days with the Ballet Russes). ~pointe~ Link to comment
Guest PencheAriBesque Posted February 26, 2001 Share Posted February 26, 2001 I think I would've really liked to see Allegra Kent dance. I know she still takes lots of class at steps, but after reading her bio, I can only imagine the passion she expressed in Balanchine's innovative ballets. Reading her bio was like climbing inside her head, and I'd love to get a more visual aspect of her. Ciao, Arielle P.S. I would've loved to have seen Elizabeth Caroll dance too! Link to comment
Petite_Arabesque Posted February 27, 2001 Share Posted February 27, 2001 I would have to say that it would've been awesome to see Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Esler, and all of those "romantic era" ballerinas. Aslo, Augusta Maywood, one of the first american ballerinas, would have been a treat!! Gosh, there are so many that I wish I could have seen, the list goes on and on!! ~~Carmen Link to comment
Guest Ileene Posted February 27, 2001 Share Posted February 27, 2001 I'd like to see Alisa Markova. I read a biography on her and she seemed to have an amazing life. Imagine haveing to try to keep your weight up! I would also love to see Margo Fonteyn. Ileene Link to comment
Guest DancingStarr Posted February 28, 2001 Share Posted February 28, 2001 I honestly would have loved to see my teacher, Janet Combs, dance when she was younger. She wasn't famous or anything, but from all that I've heard, she was quite talented. I'd also like to see Alicia Markova or any of the five Oklahoma Native American ballerinas dance. There's probably a video of all of them out there somewhere, but I've never seen it. ------------------ ~*Mary*~ "Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda Link to comment
Guest jodesy Posted February 28, 2001 Share Posted February 28, 2001 I also would have loved to see my dance teacher...Wendy Graack. She is also not famous but she is amazing in my eyes and I truly look up to her. Link to comment
Guest dancedarling5 Posted February 28, 2001 Share Posted February 28, 2001 I would really like to see Margot Fonteyn dance - but I would rather see her dance in person then on video, because I think the true musicality of dance will never be conveyed except through live performance, when you are immersed in the world of ballet. Lauren Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 28, 2001 Share Posted February 28, 2001 Those of us who saw her dance would be happy to see her WALKING these days, but alas, she's dancing in the big theater up in the sky now, with Pavlova, and Taglioni and Camargo and the rest of the gang! Link to comment
Victoria Leigh Posted February 28, 2001 Author Share Posted February 28, 2001 Mary, I have seen Janet Combs dance, and in my own choreography! As you probably know, I taught her when she was a student at OU, and she danced a major role in a Poulenc Concerto that I did for the company there. She was indeed talented, and very lovely! Of the Indian Ballerinas, I have seen Yvonne Chouteau, Maria Tallchief, and Rosella Hightower. Never saw Mocelyn Larkin or Marjorie Tallchief. I adored Yvonne Chouteau! What a lovely dancer and beautiful person. I also took classes with her at OU, as I was still dancing when I was teaching there. [This message has been edited by Victoria Leigh (edited February 27, 2001).] Link to comment
hesterlover1 Posted March 2, 2001 Share Posted March 2, 2001 What a tough question! I really love watching any good dancer performing... I would love to see Fonteyn, because people say you couldn't keep your eyes off her onstage. I read her biography, and I would love to meet her, if I could. Also, Anna Pavlova would be great to see. And I agree with some other people that I'd like to see my teacher dance, although she isn't famous as a ballerina. ------------------ Keep Dancing! ~Katie~ Link to comment
Victoria Leigh Posted March 2, 2001 Author Share Posted March 2, 2001 Ah, but Katie, there are lots of videos available of Fonteyn! (I don't think you will ever meet her, however, at least in this lifetime. She died a few years ago. I did have the good fortune of meeting her, however, as she was a guest artist with ABT when I was there. I don't believe I have ever met a more beautiful or lovely woman, one I could only term as a true Lady, in the very best sense of the word. Perhaps Gentlewoman would be a better term.) As for Pavlova, I think all of us would love to have been able to see her! The few little tiny film clips that are available are not very good, and very hard to tell what she was really like. Some of her photos are quite wonderful, though. I would love to have seen the Romantic era ballerinas, Taglioni, Elssler, Cerrito, Grahn, and Grisi. They all led such fascinating lives, and were major "stars" in their day. [This message has been edited by Victoria Leigh (edited March 01, 2001).] Link to comment
Guest DancingStarr Posted March 2, 2001 Share Posted March 2, 2001 Ms. Leigh, I think I knew that you had taught Janet...I believe she mentioned you in class just a couple of days ago. She'll often refer to her former teachers. I think she referred to you as the teacher who thought in circles?!?! But maybe that was someone else...I do know she's mentioned you though. She obviously was talented, and I feel very fortunate to study with her. ------------------ ~*Mary*~ "Dancing is freedom. Freedom of movement, freedom to be, freedom to express yourself, and freedom to fly." Link to comment
hesterlover1 Posted March 2, 2001 Share Posted March 2, 2001 Oops...I feel stupid now...lol! I didn't realize there were videos of Fonteyn available. Do you know which ones? That's great, though, because now I can see her dance. Ever since I read her biography, I've wanted to. ------------------ Keep Dancing! ~Katie~ Link to comment
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