8 replies to this topic

[sandik]

After its premiere in January at the Dance and the Camera Festival, "Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance" is starting broader distribution.  You can see the trailer here, or look for screening information here (it's going to screen in Seattle at the Northwest Film Forum June 1-7)

[dirac]

Thanks, sandik. It never did get broadly distributed to my vicinity, but at long last my local PBS stations have gotten around to showing it (instead of endless reruns of Jackie Evancho, grumble grumble). My knowledge of early Joffrey history not being as detailed as it should be, the first part of the documentary was especially useful in filling the gaps. The meat of the film is of course the dance excerpts, of which there could be more. The footage of The Green Table is smashing, as is the bits of Parade, with Gary Chryst as the Chinese Conjuror and the segments showing Massine and Joffrey in rehearsal, all of which were new and wonderful to this viewer. Also liked the contributions from the former Joffrey dancers, especially Trinette Singleton, still beautiful, and another whose name I'm sorry to say escapes me. Fantastic to see Singleton and Zomosa in Astarte.

The film is diplomatic on the subject of Arpino's choreography, with Sasha Anawalt noting that ballet critics seemed to view it as their job to remind  the untutored that Balanchine was a better choreographer than Arpino. Critics can be funny that way.

[sandik]

dirac, on 03 March 2013 - 09:32 PM, said:

The film is diplomatic on the subject of Arpino's choreography, with Sasha Anawalt noting that ballet critics seemed to view it as their job to remind  the untutored that Balanchine was a better choreographer than Arpino. Critics can be funny that way.

I giggled at that one too!

I'm so glad you finally got to see it -- as a Seattle person, I have very warm feelings about Joffrey and the company.  They were my introduction to the art form, and I think that's true for many others as well.

[Mme. Hermine]

i'm curious; did they even mention or show a photo of bobby blankshine at all?

[sandik]

Mme. Hermine, on 04 March 2013 - 08:50 AM, said:

i'm curious; did they even mention or show a photo of bobby blankshine at all?

I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember -- I saw it last June.  Dirac?

[dirac]

There was a shot where I thought I might have spotted Blankshine but I can't say for certain. I think if he'd been mentioned outright I'd remember it. An unfortunate omission, if so.

[lmspear]

PBS is currently offering it at http://video.pbs.org/video/2320387369/

[diane]

Thank you very much for that link!

-d-

[lmspear]

diane, on 05 March 2013 - 12:37 AM, said:

Thank you very much for that link!

-d-

Any time.
Lisa