28 replies to this topic

[Alexandra]

Alas, poor Fanny.  

Glebb, I don't think so.  They revived the livsglaedens dans (translated as "Dance of the Joy of Living" in the 1950s, but that's the last I've heard of it. I don't think it survived Beck's tenure as director.

It's a shame, because, judged by those solos in the third act of Napoli and the dances in Coppelia, Beck was a wonderful choreographer. He didn't think so -- he couldn't structure a ballet the way Bournonville could, he wrote -- but he sure could do steps!

I'm sure Fanny Cerrito would have been a wonderful Little Mermaid.  Probably a great Teresina in Napoli, too

[glebb]

Alexandra, will you please, please, please write your next book on the Romantic Ballerinas?

[Alexandra]

Glebb, you are very sweet, but I don't know nearly enough to write a book about Romantic ballerinas.  Have you read Ivor Guest's books?  He even has a biography of Cerrito, I think, but the Romantic Ballet in Paris, and the Romantic Ballet in London are fully of wonderful ballerina stories.

[glebb]

I have Ivor Guest's "Victorian Ballet Girl", which is about Clara Webster.  I'll look for Fanny Cerrito, and I hope there is one about Lucille Grahn.

I still think your book would be interesting to read.

[Victoria Leigh]

Glebb, do you have Parmena Miguel's book called "The Ballerinas"? It has bios of the Romantic era ballerinas

[glebb]

No.  Where do I get it?   I hope I can get it in a hurry!

[Victoria Leigh]

Unfortunately, I think it's probably out of print. But, the good news is, I found a copy in a second hand book store a couple of years ago. I had a copy from years ago, maybe 70's, but it sort of mysteriously disappeared when it got loaned out, so I was most delighted to find this copy.  You might try Amazon, and there is another site that has old books, and it was listed here on the board somewhere, but I have forgotten now what it was called. I might have it bookmarked....will check.

[Victoria Leigh]

The websites for rare books are Alibris and Bibilofind, which is part of Amazon.  (Links sent to you via IM, since I can't seem to do that here.)  

The Balletinas is by Parmenia Migel, published in 1972 by Macmillan Co.  

Another book you would like is The Romantic Ballet, from Batsford Colour Books. (B.T. Batsford, LTD) Intro by Sacheverell Sitwell. It is a small book, published in 1948. I also found that in a used book store.  It's mostly just the lithographs, with some text. But lots of wonderful pictures of the lithographs.

[Victoria Leigh]

I just checked Alibris, and both of the above books are available there, plus several others on the romantic ballet!  There were a number of copies of the Migel book available.

[glebb]

A used but in great shape, first edition copy ofThe Romantic Ballerinas should be in the mail to me at any moment.  I look forward to it's arrival.  

Thanks Victoria!

[Alexandra]

That was one of the first dance history books I read.  It's wonderful -- lots of gossip

[K2356]

Regarding photographs of Elssler and the other Ballerinas,
the NYC Public Library dance collection has many,many
photographs.A limited number of the photos have been
digitalized and can be view from your computer with
internet access.
-
The NYCPL catolog internet address is
www.catnyp.nypl.org
-
once you get to the above page click dance collection
link then you can search by author,subject,etc.

[Victoria Leigh]

K2356, can you please check that URL?  I tried it and it does not work. Says web site not found.

[K2356]

Sorry !!!!

TRY               http://catnyp.nypl.org/