Ballet for All (7 Parts)

Synopsis

Seven programmes based on those originally written for stage by Peter Brinson and performed by the company Ballet for All which consisted of actors and young soloists of the Royal Ballet companies.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 7 x 30 min.

Year of production

1970

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Dance

Keywords

ballet

Credits

Cast

David Blair

Sections

Title

How ballet began

Synopsis

Part 1 explains how ballet began as a kind of opera with ballroom dance steps performed exclusively by men. It soon evolved into a precise art form incorporating mime and gesture, with women accepted as performers and the beginnings of classical technique

Title

Ballet enters the world stage

Synopsis

Part 2: Dancing on 'pointe' using a new type of ballet shoe allowed a lighter style, as did the simpler and more appropriate costumes, especially in romantic ballets such as 'Giselle'. Ballet's artistic prestige was enhanced by becoming a pastime for aris

Title

How ballet was saved

Synopsis

Part 3: Ballet was almost destroyed when male ballet dancers scorned the art because women danced men's roles. In Russia, where the quality of music improved, partially through the inclusion of national folk dances in the repertoire, men found rewarding c

Title

Tchaikovsky and the Russians

Synopsis

Part 4: A new form of classical choreography resulted from the fusion in Russia of French and Italian traditions. The grand 'pas de deux' from 'Sleeping Beauty' and from 'The Bluebird' are danced as examples of the period.

Title

Beginnings of today, The

Synopsis

Part 5: When Anna Pavlova (seen in rare footage) and Nijinsky danced 'Les Sylphides' together in Paris in 1909, they achieved expressiveness as well as technical virtuosity in romantic ballet. This new era of poetic dancing also heralded an equality betwe

Title

Ballet comes to Britain

Synopsis

Part 6: The premier event in achieving a true British ballet style is demonstrated in an excerpt from de Valois' 'The Rake's Progress'. Extracts from Nijinsky's 'L'Après-midi d'un Faune' and 'Les Biches' together with Massine's 'La Boutique Fantasque', il

Title

British ballet today

Synopsis

Part 7: The contribution of Kenneth MacMillan's choreography to ballet is an unprecedented correlation between music and movement, demonstrated in 'Concerto' and in scenes from 'La Fille Mal Gardée'. Featured performers are Patricia Ruanne, Kerrison Cooke

Production Company

Name

Thames Television

Distributor

Name

Guild Sound & Vision

Notes

for management & training programmes, see Training Services Ltd