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Danseur Photo Books


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So, as a treat to myself this Christmas, I bought recently released photo books featuring Roberto Bolle and Nicolas Le Riche. (Bruce Weber photographed the former while Anne Deniau photographed the latter.)

The Le Riche book is a curious affair. If I did not know that he was an etoile w/ the POB, I would never have discerned that fact from the photos. The casual viewer would be more likely to think they were looking at a principal dancer from Pina Bausch's company given how much photographic emphasis is given to Le Riche's place in the POB's contemporary repertory. I suppose the intent is to convey Le Riche's essential "seriousness" but, really, all the photos convey is his seeming embarassment at being a tights-and-tunic-wearing classical dancer.

The Bolle book goes in the opposite direction as Bruce Weber photographs Bolle (in tights, when he's wearing anything at all) as if he was a 1930s matinee idol. Bolle is at the peak of his looks and physique in this book and, as I paged through the book, I couldn't help but think of Madonna's Sex book from 1992. Whatever one thinks of Bolle or Madonna (or the content of Sex), there's no denying the fact that, in their old age, they will both have these books as reminders of just how extraordinary they looked at a certain juncture in their lives. (The Bolle book also benefits from numerous guest stars including (among others) the Royal's Federico Bonelli, Veronika "divided opinions" Part and 60s supermodel Veruschka.)

Grades:

Le Riche - C

Bolle - A-

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kfw - there are 2 photos w/ Bolle, Part and Irina Dvorovenko.

The first (and smaller) photo is a fairly static composition with Bolle lifting Dvorovenko and Part leaning against Bolle's back. The second (full-page) photo is much more dramatic and compositionally interesting -- Bolle has Dvorovenko in his right arm and is dropping her to the floor while his left arm is reaching upward and behind him -- where it meets Part's raised left arm. (She is standing on-pointe behind him with her right arm on his shoulder.)

In the photos, Bolle wears tights but no shirt, Part wears a tutu and Dvorovenko wears a unitard. Both ladies have their hair down.

I hope this helps!

P.S. I forgot to mention in my prior review -- the Bolle book actually includes one of his mother's recipes!

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Whatever one thinks of Bolle or Madonna (or the content of Sex), there's no denying the fact that, in their old age, they will both have these books as reminders of just how extraordinary they looked at a certain juncture in their lives.

Yes, indeed. Who among us wouldn't want to be able to thumb through old photos of ourselves and think, Damn. :bow:

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