American Ballet Theatre Now [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of American Ballet Theatre Now [VHS]
Movie Review: ABT All-Stars perform the hits; solid dancing; so-so camera
Summary: 4 Stars
"Variety and Virtuosity" is a very good DVD that will provide any dance fan with excellent entertainment value and an easy way to view some classic Pas de Deux. The all-star American Ballet Theatre cast (1998 version) is enjoyable to watch, and performs admirably. The dialogue between the pieces is a nice way to provide a little background about the dances as well as a little insight into the personalities of the performers.Aside from the opening three-minute "Polonaise" (lots of walking around) leading to the introductory words by Natalia Makarova, there are seven dance numbers performed. Five feature a Pas de Deux, and only one shows a dance in its entirety, "Remanso," choreographed by Nacho Duato (not to be missed; it's awesome). The partnering is very good: the younger Jose Manuel Carreno provides a strong complement to the seasoned Susan Jaffe in a number from "Swan Lake," husband and wife John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow are likewise well-matched ("The Leaves are Fading"), and Julie Kent and Robert Hill convey interesting straight-faced emotion in a work ("Cruel World") choreographed specifically on them by James Kudelka. Julio Bocca comes across as a little overly sappy in the Balcony Pas de Deux with Alessandra Ferri (one of my favorite ballerinas), but it's still great to watch. The most exceptional pair is Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella, in the Grand Pas de Deux from "Don Quixote," who elicited the loudest cheers for their combination of energy, athleticism, grace and balance. As mentioned earlier, "Remanso" was unbelievable; I was spellbound (also check out "Three by Duato," one of the best modern dance DVDs). The 3rd Movement from "Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 was pretty good."
I'd give this DVD a 5-star rating were it not for a few little negatives which combined to knock it down a notch. First, with a run time of 83 minutes, there's very little dancing left after the introduction (not necessary, but typical for an episode of "Great Performances") and interviews with the director and dancers. Secondly, I was frustrated by camera work and editing that was a little spotty, with too many instances of dancers running in and out of the picture ... I wasn't seeing where my eyes wanted to look. Lastly, there are zero DVD extras (included in most other performance discs) that would have provided some welcome extra dimensions to the viewing experience (e.g., biographies, more behind-the-scenes footage).
Overall, this is a nice compilation of highlights for anyone wanting an good introductory look into ballet. Also, it's great for seasoned ballet fans, especially those of ABT.
Movie Review: If you know ballet you you love this
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a ballerina myself and I love this. I found the big prblem with the dancing videos are the camera angles..you always get the wrong one. With this you won't have a problem. The dancers are on the music and the dancing is great. You get both the classics and modern works. Along this the dances you also get behind the scences and short interviews from the dancers. This is really good.Movie Review: Great company! Great repertoire! Great transfer to DVD!
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally, this thrilling gala performance is available on DVD! The transfer is crisp and the dances are nicely indexed so you can jump to your favorites...not that you'll want to skip even one of them. But I'm sure every balletomane will have her or his favorite. Mine is "Remanso", a pas de trois for men based on a Garcia Lorca poem. Taped in 1998, these performances feature many of ABTs upcoming stars (Corella, Carreno, Herrera, Stiefel) as well as seasoned veterans (Jaffe, Bocca, Hill, McKerrow). Angel Corella delivers breath-taking turns in his pas de deux with Paloma Herrera from "Don Quixote."Although comprised of eight separate dance performances, each segment is intercut with fragments of backstage interviews with the dancers and artistic director Kevin McKenzie. Nothing momentous is revealed, but it's nice to hear the dancers express their enthusiasm for the works they perform and for the company that have the priviledge to dance for. Introduced by prima ballerina assoluta Natalia Makarava (looking great in a maroon silk and velvet gown by Gianfranco Ferre), it moves quickly and is the type of DVD you'll want to watch over and over. Far superior to ABTs other recent offering on DVD, "Le Corsaire," in which the dancers make fun of ballet (with justification) in between-the-acts interviews...and which is difficult to watch more than once.
I never understand why "fine art" DVDs offer so few "extras" (in this case, none). If you go to a live performance of a ballet, you get program notes on the music and choreography and short biographies of each principal dancer. Is that so difficult to transfer to a bonus material section on a DVD? Are there copyright issues? Anyway, don't let the absence of extras deter you, this DVD really delivers the goods. Buy it, watch it, love it.
Movie Review: ...I am an American Ballet Theater fan...so I loved this....
Summary: 5 Stars
...oh, I can do SOME nit picking...at 83 minutes it is a sadlyshort program. It is choice, however. The opening has two
wonderful dancers but the gentleman is in black tights against
a black background...I would have had him change to medium gray.
But if you have the movie: "Center Stage" and the ballet: "La
Corsaire"...you will find many old friends and some new ones.
I have some ABT laser discs (remember them?)..."ABT at the Met"
and "ABT in San Francisco" as well as the ABT/Baryshnikov production of "Don Quiote"...and it is my hope that these and
many other ABT performances will be made available on dvd. ABT
is primarily a touring company, and some of us are not in cities
where we can see them. Frequent dvd releases can keep us current on new dancers and choreographers and hopefully allow
us in our way to be fans and support ABT, too.
..."ABT Variety and Virtuosity" is a delightful addition to
the ABT dvd's. I especially loved the "Don Quixote Pas de Deux"
...but really 83 minutes is a very short program. I would like
to see ABT do a revival of "Gaite Parisienne" and "Pinepple Pol"
on dvd...watching the ABT company is always a delight...please
bring us more!
Movie Review: Paloma Herrera Gives an absolutley breathtaking performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I got tears in my eyes as soon as Paloma Herrera strutted so gracefully upon the stage. I now love her, she has become my favorite dancer. She even makes the simplest step an art. If you have never experienced the ballet before, this is a good starter video if you really want to know what real ballet looks like. Paloma may be crowned Diva of the ballet right now.Alessandra Ferri also gives a stunning performance as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She makes the scenario seem so real, and she is another with gorgeous feet. I think every dancer on this video really shows all of what they are made of! I fully reccommend this video for anyone to enjoy!