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

Invitation to the Dance (MGM,1956)

In my opinion a top ten, absolutely not to be missed. Conceived, directed, choreographed and performed by Gene Kelly, it won the Berlin Film Festival! It's divided into three parts: "Circus" (modern and Ballet) with Kelly, Igor Youskevitch and Claire Sombert. Music by Jacques Ibert.
"Ring Around the Rosy" (Jazz,Tap,Ballet) the most extraordinary part, starring Gene Kelly, Tamara Toumanova, Igor Youskevitch, Claude Bessy, Tommy Rall, Irving Davies and Diana Adams. Music by André Previn.
"Sinbad the Sailor" (modern and Tap) live action and animation, performed by Kelly and David Kasday. Music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.