Alastair Macaulay on Balanchine Rarities

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Although over 60 ballets by Balanchine remain in repertory, over 40 years after his death, there are many more that either fell out of repertory during his lifetime or have become little-known rarities since his death. The Library for the Performing Arts has films of “lost” or rare Balanchine ballets—some complete with music, some fragmentary filmed without sound. In this panel discussion, Alastair Macaulay, critic and historian of the performing arts, presents some rarities, ranging from The Gods Go A-Begging (1928) to Adagio Lamentoso (1981). His selection includes dancers Alexandra Danilova, Tamara Toumanova, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Edward Villella, Suzanne Farrell, Patricia McBride, and Merrill Ashley.

Photo Credit: Gaspard de la Nuit by George Balanchine. Photo by Martha Swope, 1975. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

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