Lissbirds

I just checked the NYCB's gift shop site--I didn't see it on there so I guess you can only get it in person. But thanks for the heads up, though.

--Melissa

Just an update--I did contact Direct Cinema Limited to see if the "Man Who Dances" video is available--sadly it is not.      I'll have to keep digging around for something in the meantime, but again, thanks everyone for the great response.

    --Melissa

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I bought mine at the New York City Ballet pretty recently. It might be available at the New York State Theater.

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Is this the same as the "Choreography by Balanchine" tapes? (In two parts) I'm a little confused.

--Melissa

Yep, this one:

Telecast on May 21, 1975 by WNET/13, New York on the series, Great performances. Dances filmed in 1973 by RM Productions, Munich in cooperation with Unitel, directed by Hugo Niebeling. For WNET/13 telecast, narration by Clive Barnes and visuals by Emile Ardolino.

Choreography: George Balanchine. Conducted by Robert Irving with the Orf Symphony Orchestra. Narration written by Clive Barnes. Performed by members of the New York City Ballet Company.

CONTENTS. - Serenade. Music: Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky. Danced by Karin von Aroldingen, Susan Hendl, Sara Leland, Kay Mazzo, Jean-Pierre Bonnefous, Peter Martins, and artists of the New York City Ballet. - Tarantella. Music: Louis Moreau Gottschalk, as arranged by Hershey Kay. Danced by Edward Villella and Patricia McBride. - Duo concertant. Music: Igor Stravinsky. Music performed by Gordon Boelzner, piano, and H. Cees Van Schaik, violin. Danced by Kay Mazzo and Peter Martins.

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Just an update--I did contact Direct Cinema Limited to see if the "Man Who Dances" video is available--sadly it is not. I'll have to keep digging around for something in the meantime, but again, thanks everyone for the great response.

--Melissa

Do you mean the "Dance In America: Choreography by Balanchine" video? I had seen that Villella is listed as appearing in that series (Part 1 and 2, I think?) but I couldn't figure out if that meant he was interviewed for the show or if they actually had footage of him dancing. I see all four episodes are on Amazon are available used (e.g. Jewels/Stravinsky Violin Cto.), but I don't know which ones (if any) have Villella in them. Then I also saw "Balanchine: Dance in America: The Balanchine Celebration" Parts 1 and 2, and I don't know who's on that video either. Does anyone know what is what?

--Melissa

Thanks for everyone who responded--I saw that DVD about Farrell on Amazon, I think, so that should be no problem. Too bad that production of Midsummer Night's Dream isn't available! That's one of our favorites that we've seen at the NYCB. Maybe someday it will be available for us to purchase (probably a copyright issue or something like that?) Or maybe someone will find some old film footage of Prodigal Son sitting in their attic somewhere. But I guess I'll have to settle for what's out there. Thanks again!

--Melissa

There's a video of a 1968 film about Villella which won an Emmy, called "Man Who Dances." It's a sort of cinema verite piece, a little arty but better than nothing. My copy came from Direct Cinema Limited. I don't know if they're still in business, but for what it's worth, they were In Santa Monica, CA and their phone number was (310) 396-4774.

Perhaps better would be a copy of Villella's autobiography,"Prodigal Son." This has several photos, among them a spectacular one of his leap which shows exactly what your mother is talking about. It was published in 1992 and is out of print, but I'm sure is available from used booksellers like abebooks.com. Good luck.

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Thanks so much for the info--I'll look into that and see if I can obtain a copy of that program. I actually did buy her the book a few years ago for her birthday! I just happened to see it by chance in the bookstore and lucked out. Thanks again for the info!

--Melissa

Hello all--

I am new to this board and I'm only a novice observer of ballet. (Even though I might not know all of the terminology and history, I do love it very much!) Anyway, my mother is the person who introduced me to ballet (from when I was a little girl she would take me to see the NYCB at their summer residence) and she always is telling me about how when she was young she saw Edward Villella in a production of Prodigal Son and how she loved it--("He jumped so high it was like I could reach my hand out and touch him from the balcony!") I am hoping to surprise her this Christmas with a video recording of one of Villella's performances, but, alas, I have had no luck in finding any. From what I can tell, a Prodical Son production starring Villella was never filmed, so I have given up hope in that respect. But I am asking you if anyone knows if any other of his ballets are available on video/DVD, and I would even settle for a video of clips and highlights from his career. I thank you all in advance and I am so happy that such a great ballet resource is out there on the web!

--Melissa