Bedrich Smetana: Louisa's Polka

Bedřich Smetana (March 2, 1824 -- May 12, 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music.

When he was young, his father sent him to Prague to study in the autumn of 1839. After his father discovered that the young son was not paying much attention to his school, the father placed him temporarily with his uncle in Nové Město, where he enjoyed a brief romance with his cousin Louisa. He commemorated their passion in Louisa's Polka, Smetana's earliest complete composition that has survived.

This is my attempt to commemorate Smetana's birthday (March 2, 1824) by combining his melodious dance music with some of the great dance clips from Hollywood films.

Music: Louisa's Polka -- Bedrich Smetana
Performed by Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Frantisek Jilek

Visual excerpts taken from these videos:
Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell: "Jukebox Dance" -- Film: Broadway Melody (1940)
Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron: "Sluefoot" -- Daddy Long Legs (1955)
Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell: "Begin the Beguine" -- Film: Broadway Melody (1940)
Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds : "Be Careful, It's My Heart"-- Holiday Inn (1942)
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers: "Too Hot to Handle" -- Roberta (1935).
Lisa Miles and Tim Balfour - A Variation on Fred and Ginger for the third act of Opera Australia's production of Die Fledermaus at the Sydney Opera House.
Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth: Musical act -- Film: You Will Never Get Rich (1941)
Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines -- Film: White Nights (1985)
Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth: "So Near and Yet So Far" -- Film: You Will Never Get Rich (1941)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical music
• Louisa's Polka
• Bedrich
• Smetana
• polka
• ginger rogers
• rita hayworth
• eleanor powell
• marjorie reynolds
• leslie caron
• Gregory Hines
• moldau
• yt:stretch=16:9

[janab71]

is that baryshnikov?

[bemused321]

@janab71 Yes, Indeed! With Gregory Hines in White Nights.

[gabcarol8]

how in the world did you combine two of my favorite people- Smetana and Astaire??

[marek5554]

Your video is really well done! You must have great feeling of music and dance! :)

[janab71]

how do you know of bedrich smetana? are you czech? :-)

[janab71]

@bemused321 thank you :-)

[foamulator]

The Dance GODS.

[aryankhan65]

My favorites are indeed Rita and Eleanor!

Great job!! Keep it up :)

[thissong4you]

When I think of Smetana, I think of "The Moldau," which I love. Thanks for expanding my apppreciation. This is a lovely piece. Your visuals are wonderful. The entire clip is extremely well done. Thank you.

[clarebannerman]

Beautiful...................♪♫ ♥