Serge Lifar, Serge Peretti and Lycette Darsonval - A Pas de Trois

[BernardProfitendieu]

I've never read anything to indicate Lifar was a great dancer, most sources speak of him as a looker rather than a technician. Not sure why the French worshipped at his alter for so long 'cause he sure wasn't any good at choreography. I think of him as the Peter Martins of his day: a guy who took a job way, way above his capabilities and then milked it for years.

[nickwallacesmith]

and yes it looks as though it were a 'made for movie' ballet - the choreo is awful and Lifar hardly dances - he probably just wanted to be part of the venture. have you any idea what the movie might have been? perhaps a French documentary to celebrate Peretti at the POB - there's lots of footage of him in the new Dominique Delouche film.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Bernard Profitendieu - yes definitely a looker rather than a great dancer - and without Diaghilev's sexual/romantic interest in him he may not have been really known today - i think the French were a bit in awe of anything connected with the legend that was the Ballets Russes - amazing he was so central at the POB after WW2 considering he was a collaborator. like your Peter Martins comparison - i've always worked too hard to appreciate him given his prominence.

[BernardProfitendieu]

he would've been 40 years old that year so yeah, sorta pushing well beyond the prime of most male dancers (there's a reason they're called 'boys and girls'. ... but just as likely, because this is excerpted from a movie is that layers upon layers of compromises were made to the choreography before it got to the point where we see it.

[rosandeux]

Thank you for another fragment. Might this be from "Oriane et Le Prince d'Amour" - Oriane=Darsonval, Prince=Lifar, Poet= Peretti, music = Florent Schmitt, Lifar chor.1938.. Beaumont's "Supplement to The Complete Book of Ballets" discusses it pp110-113 (my edition=1945 reprint) with a performance pose photo (full company, different costumes) which is very similar to their pose at 1:03 and 1:09. I offer this thought knowing full well that choreographers typically borrow from themselves.

[ilovefacebookandebay]

Thanks Nick, gave me a good laugh.!!