Sunday, May 17, 2009

Erik Bruhn And Bournonville


Erik Bruhn was one of the most important and beautiful dancers in history. His long lines and extraordinary technique made him Nureyev's only role model - he was also the great love of his life. A Dane, Bruhn honored, in this slender volume, his country's most influential choreographers ever, Auguste Bournonville, whose technique and ballets (such as La Sylphide) completely shaped the Danish national ballet company. It features wonderful pictures, but also valuable technical advice - the chapters on pirouettes is especially enlightening. Though it is out of print, this precious book can be found online.

Love dance? Watch the New York Times's recent video tribute to the tutu, and their Baryshnikov slideshow + article. Also check out dancer Daniil Simkin's blog.

14 comments:

christina said...

I appreciate this post so much, especially after being so attached to the nyt articles. Thank you, thank you. Headed to Simkin's blog.
: )

Kwana said...

Thanks so much. I will and share it with my dancer in the house.

Andrea Tachezy said...

What a great photos!

Marci said...

Que bonito libro.
Y el blog al que nos remites, pparó el pasado año?
Saludos

Spangler Cummings said...

Touche to the Tutu's Tribute!

Mary-Laure said...

CHRISTINA - yes, the NY Times has very good coverage of dance. I hope you enjoy all the links!

KWANA - who's the dancer, one of your children?

MARCI - la verdad que no se...

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Great past, I love my NYTimes!
Lovely week beautiful!

Kira Aderne said...

I really wanna to do ballet! you know? I used to do when I was a kid and I think it gonna be fun to come back....do you do ballet?

I love those pics so much! Genius!

Mary-Laure said...

LENORENEVRMORE - yes, I too am a New York Times fan!!

KIRA - a few years ago I started taking ballet again and it makes me so happy! You should go back to class, it's great exercise and very beautiful.

Laura in Paris said...

Both of the videos are very interesting.
THe tutu one shows an aspect of a dance production one never thinks of.

artycho said...

I don't think I ever told you that I have some dancer friends one of them danced for the Opera of London and he learnt with the boy who inspired Billy Elliot's story.I am curently working at making dresses for a modern dance show in June so if you have any pictures that would inspire me they would be more than welcome!

Mary-Laure said...

ARTYCHO - I had no idea you were involved with a show, how exciting! I can't wait to see your creations and am sure they will be, as always, wonderful.
BTW, I didn't know Billy Elliot was based on a true story.

Miss Woody said...

gorgeous!

lune_blanc said...

Thank you for introducing me to Erik Bruhn and also for all the links!