THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM MY APRIL 26, 2021 VIDEO "MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV SPECTACULAR TURNING POINT SOLOS." THIS VIDEO IS SIMILAR AND INCUDES AUDIO AND BALLET TERMINOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.
The Turning Point from 1977 is one of my favorite movies. The Turning Point featured dance segments from big name ballet stars of the 1970s including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins, Fernando Bujones. This video provides commentary on two Baryshnikov solos: his Ali variation from Le Corsaire and the Basilio Act III variation from Don Quixote. His solos reveal unique steps done with rare athleticism and command that have stood the test of time.
Thanks to Jeremy Naismith for insightful commentary on a previous video that has shaped my comments on the Ali variation.
Sources
"The Turning Point" DVD. Anchor Bay Entertainment, 1977.
"American Ballet Theatre Le Corsaire" DVD. Image Entertainment, 2000.
"Baryshnikov Live at Wolf Trap" DVD. Kultur Video, 2004.
Thumbnail photo of Baryshnikov in The Turning Point: Allstar Picture Library Limited. / Alamy Stock Photo, All Star Picture Library, 20th Century Fox.
All other Baryshnikov photos: Vladimir Bliokh.
Glossary of Steps
Attitude: A pose in which the leg is bent at a 90 degree angle.
Barrel Turns: Turn of the back done in a circle. Also called Tour de Reins.
Double Tour en l’air: Two turns in the air off of two feet. Mostly performed by men.
Manége, en: Travel around in a circle while performing a combination of steps or turns. A popular manége consists of coupé jetés.
Pirouette a lá Seconde (also, turns in second position): Large pirouette in second position, the free leg extended at 90 degrees.
Pirouette en Dehors: Turning on one leg, outward on left leg, clockwise.
Retiré: A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l’air with the knee bent so that the pointed toe rests in front of, behind or to the side of the supporting knee. Also referred to as Passé.
Rivoltade: The dancer places one leg in the air and then gives the impression of jumping over it with the other leg. The landing foot is the same as the takeoff foot.
Saut de Basque: A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn up to the knee of the other leg. A jump off of the right foot would land on the left foot.
27 дек 2023