AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: Historic Telecasts, 1959-62 (DVD)

In celebration of American Ballet Theatre’s 75th anniversary, VAI has assembled a collection of historic performances presented by the company and its stars on The Bell Telephone Hour television series. These include excerpts from signature works such as Billy the Kid, Les Patineurs, and Giselle, as well as Raymonda – Grand Pas de Dix and Le Corsaire – Pas de Deux. Featured dancers include Lupe Serrano, Royes Fernandez, Igor Youskevitch, Ruth Ann Koesun, John Kriza, Scott Douglas, Carla Fracci, Rudolf Nureyev, in works choreographed by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, André Eglevsky, Frederic Franklin, David Lichine, Eugene Loring, and others. Color, 68 minutes.

1. Billy the Kid 11:04
Choreography by Eugene Loring; Music by Aaron Copland
Dancers: John Kriza, Ruth Ann Koesun, Scott Douglas, Kent Hatcher, and ABT Corps de Ballet (1959)

2. Le Corsaire – Pas de Deux 7:46
Choreography by Rudolf Nureyev, after Marius Petipa
Dancers: Lupe Serrano and Rudolf Nureyev (1962)

3. Graduation Ball 9:32
Choreography by David Lichine; Music by Johann Strauss, arr. Antal Doráti
Dancers: Ruth Ann Koesun, Mary Gelder, Royes Fernandez, Scott Douglas, Fernand Nault, Darrell Notara and ABT Corps de Ballet (1960)

4. Les Patineurs 6:39
Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton
Music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, arr. Constant Lambert
Dancers: Ruth Ann Koesun and John Kriza, Scott Douglas, Susan Borree, Elizabeth Carroll, and ABT Corps de Ballet (1960)

5. Christmas Tree Pas de Deux 6:03
Choreography by Robert Pagent
Dancers: Roberta Lubell and Igor Youskevitch (1960)

6. Swan Lake – White Swan Pas de Deux 9:22
Staged by Frederic Franklin; Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Dancers: Carla Fracci and Jacques d’Amboise (1961)

7. Giselle: Act II Pas de Deux and Finale 7:38
Choreography by André Eglevsky, after Coralli and Perrot; Music by Adolphe Adam
Dancers: Lupe Serrano and Royes Fernandez and ABT Corps de Ballet (1962)

8. Raymonda – Grand Pas de Dix 8:57
Choreography by George Balanchine, re-staged by Frederic Franklin
Music by Alexander Glazunov
Dancers: Lupe Serrano and Royes Fernandez and Ensemble of American Ballet Theatre (1961)