DVD Videos

Limón (1908-1972) was a Mexican-American choreographer who continues to be regarded as one of the modern dance world’s seminal creative artists, known for his intense dramatic presence and the theatricality and musicality of his dances. Here for the first time on video are three of his most famous works with the original casts, filmed in their entirety for the CBC in the 1950s.

Maria Tallchief has long been recognized as one of the most accomplished American-trained dancers of her time. Her superb technique, combined with an innate musicality, lent a strong presence to her appearances, most particularly to the many major roles created for her by George Balanchine.

Tallchief made five guest appearances on the Bell Telephone Hour. Her partners included an appropriately starry assemblage of leading male dancers. The excerpts, ranging from the cool neoclassicism of Balanchine’s Allegro brillante to John Butler’s ardent Romeo and Juliet pas de deux, amply demonstrate the extraordinary versatility of this truly great American ballerina.

In 1991, a troupe of international ballet stars, headed by the brilliant young Russian ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, visited Japan, presenting a program which underscored the considerable talents of a new generation of virtuoso dancers. Program includes Le Spectre de la Rose, The Dying Swan, Scenes from Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, The Flower Festival at Genzano, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, La Sylphide, Giselle, Don Quixote, and others.

This film captures the magnetic personality of this consummate dancer in that rarified atmosphere that surrounds an artist devoted to his art. True Prince chronicles the rituals of a

dancer’s daily life the rehearsals, the fans, the backstage milieu, and the strenuous performance demands of an international star. Program highlights include: Rehearsal and performance segments of Manon; rehearsal and complete performance of Voyage, choreographed for Malakhov by Renato Zanella; rehearsal and performance segments of Giselle; Malakhov discussing his first public performance at age 4; Reid Anderson on Classical Ballet Technique.

A DVD extra is Ulanova in the second act pas de deux from Swan Lake.

Maya Plisetskaya is universally regarded as one of the supreme ballerinas of the 20th century. In 1957, at her artistic and technical peak, she was filmed in a color production of the Bolshoi Ballet's four-act Swan Lake in the dual role of Odette and Odile. Now available for the first time on DVD, the film captures the essential qualities of Plisetskaya's art. Her lyricism (and those incredible arms) define Odette (the White Swan), while her razor-sharp attacks and brilliant turns demonstrate the malevolence of the Black Swan, Odile. Nicolai Fadeyechev is brilliant as Prince Siegfried. In a rave review, the New York Times critic commented: "This Swan Lake is a treasure."

A brilliant 1953 compilation of the best in Russian Ballet. Includes the history-making pairing of Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya in The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Ulanova in an abridged Swan Lake, and the rousing athleticism of The Flames of Paris, a stirring tribute to the French Revolution. Other dancers featured in these performances are V. Chabukiani, N. Dudinskaya, N. Sergeyev, and P. Gusev. The solo dancers are supported by the corps of the Bolshoi Ballet and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre.

81 minutes, color.

A stunning documentary on one of the 20th Century’s greatest ballerinas and the recipient of many international awards, Plisetskaya Dances has been hailed as “One of the most popular dance films ever made” (Dance Film Directory). Featured are excerpts of Plisetskaya performing excerpts from over a dozen of her greatest roles, including a mesmerizing complete performance of The Dying Swan and rare scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Other dancers who appear in the film are Vladimir Vasiliev, Dmitri Begak, Maris Liepa, and others.

72 minutes, black & white.