A DANCER'S LIFE (ONE)

Opening scene of the acclaimed ballet documenary featuring students and teachers at the American Ballet Theater School in New York in 1972. Featuring Rudolph Nureyev, Natalia Makarova, Fernando Bujones and legendary teachers Valentina Pereyaslavec and Leon Danielian. Produced and Directed by William Richert. Lincoln Center Dance Collection selection. DVD of PBS hour special and full 72 minute feature available at williamrichert.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• ballet
• dance
• Nureyev
• Makarova
• students

[SophieNeveudancer]

dancing?? gay??? are you kidding me?

male dancers are probably more strong and not only in body but in mind, than most men.

And else ¿who cares if they could be gay? what we care in here is about ballet, nothing else.

Dancers can be aliens and for us it wont matter as long as they dance with their souls and hearts!!

[daustinb]

My mother, Jane Ellen Mansfield, studied with Leon Danielian ("Little Leon" as they used to call him) at Mordkin Ballet. She was 14 at the time, and Leon was 19. She had SUCH a crush on him, and still speaks fondly of him to this day.

She recalls how "neat" he was, and how he was a great and patient partner. And to all those dancers out there, take it from my mom of 80 -- you never lose the passion. :)

I need to get her the full DVD on this from Amazon!

[AcemanJones]

I agree with everything you say...except that "David Howard used to be the best".  He was always a self-involved malicious mean bitter drunk.

[AcemanJones]

Uh, angel? What period of time in America were men able to to ballet as a career and have it been "received with nothing but appreciation and awe"?

I can't remember ANY period.

[Pri03]

I think KarrotKun1's point was--- this was a time when people didn't associate ballet with a specific connotation like people, immaturely and unfortunately do today. Think about kids today--- show them a man in a ballet costume, and listen to the comments some of them will say, even though it's not necessarily true. At a certain point in time, anyone could do ballet and it would be recieved with nothing but appreciation and awe. Now, people are constantly having to stave off untrue stereotypes.

[biaten]

Actually watching tennis is exciting to watch.

[janimarie09]

pereyaslavec : is noureev'teacher

[amonly]

Yes she was horrible - I thought like Military commander. I did not like her classes much but dancers like Gelsey Kirkland worshipped her. Those days you put yourself subservient to the teacher and your judgment sometimes was checked at the door. I preferred the teachers that allwoed for development of your own intellect, style and finding your own balance. Leon was fine.

[dobrov83]

Valentina Pereyaslavec - at least that's what it says in the video at 2:13

[TexasKatskia]

Who?