Vera Nemtchinova training Katherine Healy 1979 NYC

Vera Nemtchinova was trained in the pre-Revolutionary Maryinsky Theater. After the Russian Revolution, she joined and danced with the original Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Paris. She lived out her later life as a Russian emigre in New York City. Here she is training Katherine Healy, who was ten years old at the time. This film dates from about 1979. She was one of the last pre-Revolutionary, non-Vaganova method Russians in the West (along with twentieth century masters like George Balanchine). George Balanchine actually partnered her at one point while they were both still dancing. The traditional reverence that Healy is practicing at the end of this is one that Nemtchinova herself did in the Maryinsky theater as a child pupil before the Revolution.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Vera
• Nemtchinova
• class
• ballet
• Katherine
• Healy
• 1979

[qbendanny1]

Evry serious balletomane thanks you Blue,it brought tears to my eyes watching this great prima ballerina pass on her secrets to the youth of America.K.H. has a lot to thank Madame for her gold medals at those competitions!!!

[bluehydrangeaa]

Yes, you are quite right. K.H. does certainly have a lot to thank Madame for. It explains a lot of the technical stuff Healy was able to do later, I mean not just the competitions, but the stuff when she was grown up. I have footage of her making Healy train fouettes with her arms up in fifth the whole time! Nemtchinova was known as a technical powerhouse when she was a dancer.

[qbendanny1]

Can't wait for the fouette post Blue!Russia is truly the cradle of ballet and Madame Nemtchinova one of it's many golden children.

[bluehydrangeaa]

Yes, but a different ancestral line of Russian than the Soviets, more like George Balanchine or any of the Russian emigres at SAB back in those years. The Soviets developed differently under Communism in my mind. I will get to the fouettes, unfortunately the day job interferes sometimes! She also made Healy do her barre work in the center. The whole barre. That'll get you on your leg for sure. :)

[qbendanny1]

You are absolutely right Blue! I'ts funny,but,I thought about pointing the same out and then decided I might "step" on some toes and didn't. I'm glad you did!! I'm sure the greatest of all time Ana Pavlova would agree with you!!BRAVO TO YOU!

[bluehydrangeaa]

Thank you for the affirmation. You are so diplomatic. I am going to step into the line of fire here. The Communist-era Soviets (Vaganova line) are blissfully convinced that they are chosen and are so insular that it never occurs to them that there could be any other way to do things--even if it might be from a fellow (albeit Tsarist) Russian like this lady. I'd better duck now. I'll be having little virtual tomatoes thrown at me.

[Divinedancedivas]

Ok this made me cry! Its one of the nicest things I have seen on youtube! Thank you so much for posting!

[PureSoapCleans]

Good old teacher, full of patience and knowledge.

[jngwatson]

They're both beautiful. Too bad the ratings are disabled.

[GawkyBallerina]

I am honored to say my teacher often uses the same piece of music Madame used here for the pas de chat combination. Thany You for sharing this gem of a video!

[Guillequetzal]

That Lady is a great teacher... =)

[debhig]

Oh, thank you for this video clip. what a privilege to see this. I smile with admiration to see Madame looking very chic in her stylish ballet outfit. This is a true piece of history....

[xt0rm]

beautiful!

[CDdeodata]

I was a student of Vera Nemtchinova. One of the greatest teachers who passed the "real" tradition of classical dance. I try to continue this with my students and in my choreography. May she see me from above an smile. A demanding thus great artist in the eternal tradition for beauty.

[eloisefig]

i love the off the shoulder leo! I hope I look half that good at her age.

[skatesindreams]

Thank you for sharing this historic footage!

Please. continue to share whatever you can of KH - a remarkable dancer.