"Dreams" (Traume) from Wagner's "Wesendonck Lieder" as performed by principal dancer & choreographer Lawrence Leritz and opera star Elaine Bunse (also on Broadway in Leonard Bernstein's "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue") with the internationally acclaimed Dance Celebration company during seasons in New York and Paris. This performance at the New York University Theatre.
Lawrence Leritz is one of America's best known dance personalities. Leritz began his career with a Ford Foundation Scholarship to Balanchine's NEW YORK CITY BALLET and HARKNESS BALLET (with Patrick Swayze) and danced with the PARIS OPERA at New York's Metropolitan Opera & the Kennedy Center, the CHICAGO BALLET, Placido Domingo's LOS ANGELES MUSIC CENTER OPERA, Germany's HAMBURG BALLET, Israel's BAT DOR DANCE COMPANY, in FONTEYN & NUREYEV ON BROADWAY and as a guest artist throughout the world. Leritz's own dance company, DANCE CELEBRATION, represented the United States at the International Choreographic Competitions in Paris and received special congratulations from the White House. Leritz also appeared in the Joffrey Ballet's version of "Petrouska" starring Rudolf Nureyev at the New York City Center. Lawrence appeared twice on the cover of DANCE PAGES MAGAZINE. Lawrence is proud to have danced for a Who's Who of international dance choreographers, including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Robert Joffrey, Tommy Tune, Ruth Page, Lee Theodore, Joe Layton, Sir Frederick Ashton, John Neumeier and Alvin Ailey. Leritz made his theatrical debut in the children's chorus of the World Stage Premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical STATE FAIR, starring Ozzie & Harriet Nelson at the St. Louis Municipal Opera. STATE FAIR was supervised by Richard Rodgers, directed by James Hammerstein and choreographed by Tommy Tune. Lawrence made his Broadway debut in Sir Frederick Ashton's production of FONTEYN & NUREYEV ON BROADWAY, in the legendary duo's farewell engagement at the Gershwin Theatre. Leritz returned to Broadway when he was chosen by Jerome Robbins for his revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the New York State Theatre, starring Herschel Bernardi & Maria Karnilova. Leritz was then asked to direct & star in BROADWAY MUSICAL SHOWSTOPPERS, playing to SRO audiences on Broadway and national tour. Leritz returned to co-star with Judy Kaye, John Reardon, John Schuck, Beth Leavel and Lorene Yarnell ("Shields & Yarnell") at the St. Louis Municipal Opera in Cole Porter's CAN-CAN, garnering rave reviews. Lawrence produced and choreographed the hit show, BOOBS! THE MUSICAL, which opened at The Triad Theatre, May 20th, 2003 to rave reviews. Lawrence received New York's 2004 MAC AWARD BEST MUSICAL nomination & won the New Orleans 2005 BIG EASY AWARD & AMBIE AWARD for BOOBS! Leritz produced The 50th Anniversary Gala of The American Guild of Musical Artists, starring Beverly Sills and Peter Martins at The New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center in 1986. Lawrence also choreographed the feature film, "The Last Dragon", the mime duo Shields & Yarnell, and for MTV. Leritz is the Spectrum Records recording artist of the dance hit single "Crank It Up" produced by Cory Wade, performing live during the final month of the Las Vegas Stardust Hotel. In 2006, Leritz was included in Harvard University's George Balanchine Collection of The New York City Ballet at The Harvard Theatre Collection and The Harvard College Library.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: "The six-person cast is expertly choreographed by Lawrence Leritz"
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Robert Shields and Yarnell in a Dramaby Atlofas92,685 views
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