SWAN LAKE - Black Swan (Serrano-D'Amboise, 1960)

[gigi8346]

In one of the most famous roles a ballerina can "shine", Lupe Serrano is a bit boring. She throws her head back once too many times. She ands no charm to this role, a role in which ballerinas can show off their sensuousness, she obvious has none. --- And that is how she is in real life, I know. Not seductive enough in this role and not charming enough. ---

Definitely NOT! in a category with the true greats, Prima Ballerina Absoluta Alicia Alonso and Maya Plisetskaya and some others.

[cindchan]

Wow! I've seen him only in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Carousel. I was always drawn to him in those movies. Now I understand why. There is such an enthusiasm to his dancing! You can feel the joy he has for dancing!

[Jayee123]

She's earthbound while he defies gravity.

[zanneish]

absolutely wonderful. i love how they pay attention to each other. the stage presence that they have is amazing. in a way the techniqe seems dated, but when i stopped to really analyze, all i could see is the the technical purity. Ms. Serrano is amazing. so strong and her body is held properly with none of the hip wrenching that i see in today's dancers when they try to get their legs up higher. mr. D'Amboise has a wonderful ballon in his jumps. amazing!

[douglasmatley]

Mr. D'Amboise loved your solo. Doug Matley

[douglasmatley]

Mr. D'Amboise, you are perfect. Loved you in A Seaside Fantasy. D. Alexander John D'Maddalena(Matley). all my love

[georgeou]

Not to take away from his presence, and Jacques got some great height on those jumps, but he didn't use his feet. He let it flop around and literally scraped his heels on the ground doing pirouettes, but that was acceptable for men back then.

@Pywacket2 It's amazing that in this day in age that people like you still think you're not manly if you point your feet or make some nice lines as a male dancer.

[faery34]

Beautiful! A delight to watch and listen to. Thank you for sharing :) have a wonderful day.

[Pywacket2]

Jacques is the greatest. None of the epicene attitude of today's male dancers.

[TheGranule]

WOW! He is wonderful. He is so lithe that the other dancers look like clods (even Lupe Serrano).

Incredible!

I just saw this clip on the 'Classic Arts' presentations which are picked by various stations usually PBS.

Thank You for posting this!

[Jayee123]

@TheGranule Yes, she does look like a clod next to him. I'm sorry, but it's true. I kind of wish he'd just been allowed to dance solo.

[Catulli00]

I wish there were more male dancers that can fly like he does. He may not have perfect feet, but he is a beautiful dancer, I can't take my eyes off of either of them. What presence!

[HatinOnTheHaterz]

He visited my ballet school, he was such an interesting man.

[rocksteadyras]

He's in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!! I always had a crush on him when I was little. I love him.

[georgeou]

Around 5 minutes, he basically turned with his standing heel scraping the ground.

[etoiledelkirov]

non mi piace tanto.

[spacemodulated]

I was taught by Lupe Serrano at the School of the Penn ballet between 1980 and 1987. It is interesting to see how her technique evolved even into her 50's, when I became a student. The presentation of the heel forward was much more pronounced in class, and of course, the retire' was much higher. I DO NOT remember her throwing her arms for turns, as I think she really evolved as a teacher and was very keen on methods like Pushkin's turning system, which I teach now.

[4lifeKid]

So is this Lupe Serrano like one of the best ballerinas of all time, I feel like I am watching the best of the best somehow she is so gorgeous. She is incredible.

[rocksteadyras]

@4lifeKid I like that her legs aren't too skinny. She looks great.

[Lissbirds]

His elevation and beats are amazing. I've never seen him before.

The low retire is just a stylistic thing...if you watch other dancers from the same era you'll see that.

[pediatrapaola]

ma come fa a piacerti ha un modo di danzare veramente deprimente ed irritante al tempo stesso

[pediatrapaola]

very bad also for his time

[swar0102]

Jacques' dancing may look dated by todays standards, but it's amazing how ahead of his time his footwork was in his jumps. And his charisma, very few compare.

[neptunelogic]

low releve and retire in turns..opening to a small fourth before his tours en l'air....bad jacques! yet, at the same time, he has the most beautiful small jumps and beats. go figure.

[actor001]

Lupe Serrano : you will always be Mexico's leading ballerina of all times