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lunedì 5 dicembre 2011

Léonide Massine

One of the greatest dancers and choreographers ever (Moscow, 9 August 1895 - Borken, 15 March 1979). Librettist.
Dancer and choreographer: Ballets Russes, his company, Cinema.
Guest dancer and choreographer: American Ballet Theatre, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Cologne State Opera Ballet, Vienna Opera Ballet, La Scala in Milan, Paris Opera, Opera Comique, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, Joffrey Ballet...

Final part of the wonderful ballet movie "Spanish Fiesta" (1942/19 min) danced and choreographed by Massine. Starring Tamara Toumanova, Alexandra Danilova, Frederic Franklin, Nathalie Krassovska, Andre Eglevsky and the ensemble (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo).
Music by Rimsky-Korsakov (Capriccio espagnole).



Rumba Bomba
Amazing dance number which mixes Ballet and hispanic folklore, created by Léonide Massine and danced by Massine himself and Vera Ellen. From "Carnival in Costa Rica" (FOX,1947).


 
The beautiful "The Red Shoes" (1948) danced and choreographed by Massine and Robert Helpmann. Starring Moira Shearer.



The Gay Parisian (Warner,1941).
Another great ballet movie danced and choreographed by Léonide Massine. Starring Frederic Franklin, Milada Mladova, Igor Youskevitch, Nathalie Krassovska, Andre Eglevsky, Lubov Roudenko, Casimir Kokitch, James Starbuck and the ensemble (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo). Music by Jacques Offenbach.
                                                                                                                                          
Vera-Ellen and chorus in "Wedding Dance", the other dance number of  "Carnival in Costa Rica".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nwK1okPJCk

Luck Be a Lady

The memorable gamblers' ballet in "Guys and Dolls" (MGM,1955). Choreography by Michael Kidd and music by Frank Loesser.

Silk Stockings (MGM,1957)

Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Cole Porter, Rouben Mamoulian, Hermes Pan, Eugene Loring, MGM: one of the greatest musicals in the history.

"Fated to Be Mated".
Memorable modern and Jazz dance number performed by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.



"Red Blues".
Aaahhh, another incredible modern and Jazz dance number, performed by Cyd Charisse.



"All of You".
Beautiful modern dance number performed by Astaire and Charisse.



"The Ritz Roll and Rock".
Delightful dance number performed by Fred and chorus.


Gene Nelson

Unforgettable dancer (Theater, movies, TV). Actor, choreographer and director.
Seattle, 24 March 1920 - Los Angeles, 16 September 1996.
Filmography: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625383/
Broadway: http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=54374

"A Farm Off Old Broadway".
Great Tap solo from "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady" (Warner,1950).
https://www.facebook.com/GeneNels0n/videos/vb.1289077

"I'll Be Loving You".
Delightful dance duet with Virginia Mayo in "She's Working Her Way Through College" (Warner,1952). Choreography by LeRoy Prinz.



"What Is This Thing Called Love?".
With Janice Rule in a very nice dance number in spanish style to music by Cole Porter. From "Starlift" (Warner,1951). Choreography by LeRoy Prinz.



"This Is the Finale".
Excellent Tap solo in "The West Point Story" (Warner,1950). Choreography by Nelson himself and LeRoy Prinz.



"Looking for Someone to Love".
With Pat Horn in a great modern dance number created by himself and Lee Scott. From "So This Is Paris"(Universal,1955).
                                                                                                                       
                                                 
                                                                                    
"Tip-Toe thru' the Tulips with Me".
Great Tap number performed by Gene Nelson, Virginia Mayo and Virginia Gibson in "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" (Warner,1951). Staged by LeRoy Prinz, with music by
Joseph Burke.



"The Toy Trumpet".
Beautiful Tap number in "The West Point Story" (Warner,1950). Music by Raymond Scott.



"Crazy Rhythm".
Beautiful dance number from "Tea for Two" (Warner,1950). The choreography is by Nelson with the assistance of LeRoy Prinz, and the music is by Roger Wolfe Kahn and Joseph Meyer.

                                                

Beale Street Blues

Amazing Jazz dance number performed by Gwen Verdon, Marc Wilder, Matt Mattox and dancers. Choreography by the great Jack Cole. From "The I Don't Care Girl" (FOX,1953).

                      

The Gal with the Yaller Shoes

Cyd Charisse, Dan Dailey and dancers (Marc Wilder, Dickie Humphreys, Buddy Spencer etc.) in "Meet Me in Las Vegas" (MGM,1956). Beautiful, very original choreography by Hermes Pan. Music by Nicholas Brodszky and lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

DREAM BALLET (Anything Goes)

Beautiful ballet by Roland Petit set to music by Cole Porter, danced by Zizi Jeanmaire, Marc Wilder, Buzz Miller and chorus in "Anything Goes" (Paramount,1956).

     

Not Since Nineveh

Masterpiece dance number created by Jack Cole and performed by Jack Dodds, Marc Wilder, Reiko Sato, Patricia Dunn and Wonci Lui in "Kismet" (MGM,1955). Hindu Swing!

Adam and Eve

Shirley MacLaine, Marc Wilder, Juliet Prowse and chorus: beautiful modern dance number created by Hermes Pan to music by Cole Porter for the movie "Can-Can" (Fox,1960).

sabato 3 dicembre 2011

The Johnson Rag

Extraordinary, delightful dance number created by Jack Cole and performed by Mitzi Gaynor, Matt Mattox and Nick Navarro in "The I Don't Care Girl" (FOX,1953). Music and lyrics by Jack Lawrence, Guy H.Hall and Henry Kleinkauf.