before Portman there was, among others, Bardot

[rg]

i know nothing more of this photo except that it's from Paris MATCH.

i believe the male dancer with Brigitte Bardot is Michel Renault.

[Bonnette]

I adore Brigitte Bardot and always love seeing old photos of her in ballet mode. I'd not seen this one before, thank you!

[sandik]

That is fabulous. The look on her face!

[vipa]

That is fabulous. The look on her face!

Love it - & also the look on the face of the guy kneeling to her left.

[rg]

a correspondent formerly connected to the Lincoln Center Film Society writes as follows:

<<

It is Michel Renault. It is probably from her comeback (after 7 years absence from ballet). I guess it is a rehearsal , maybe "Sleeping Beauty." Too bad she never made a real dance film but she did a nighclub strip (very funny) in "Mademoiselle Striptease." I showed a clip at the Walter Reade.

>>

i'm not saying this is conclusive identification, etc. just someone with more knowledge than i have of this photo's subject.

[bart]

<< [ ... ] It is probably from her comeback (after 7 years absence from ballet).

I googled and found a photo of Renault and Bardot dancing a pas de deux from Sylvia on French television. http://www.google.co...iw=1024&bih=564

rg, your correspondent's reference to "Mlle. Striptease" led me to the following YouTube clip from the film. Bardot is a very reluctant stripper ... but you can see touches from her ballet training, especially the way she moves those great legs.

[Bonnette]

Oh, how wonderful! Yes, indeed, her ballet training is very much in evidence. Just lovely, thank you for posting this.

[rg]

and, also, Garbo.

publicity photocard for GRAND HOTEL (not exactly rare, but still...)