LET'S TAKE A TRIP: NEW YORK CITY BALLET WITH BALANCHINE (TV)
Summary
One in this series of educational programs for children, in which host Sonny Fox and his preteen guests travel to interesting places to learn from professionals how various things work. In this edition, Fox takes two children, Ginger MacManus and Pud Flanagan, on a trip to the rehearsal studios of the New York City Ballet and its School of American Ballet. The children learn about the way a ballet is created and the training that is necessary to become a professional ballet dancer. Fox introduces the youngsters to legendary choreographer George Balanchine, who is artistic director of the New York City Ballet and the founder and director of its School of American Ballet. Balanchine first brings them to an Intermediate-Classical class and explains the reason that ballet dancers bow. He then describes what physical attributes he looks for in a potential ballerina and introduces the visitors to Zina Bethune, a young fourth-year ballet student whose training and eating habits he compares to those of MacManus, who also takes ballet lessons. Next, students at the bar demonstrate the five ballet positions, and MacManus identifies various ballet steps. While discussing toe work, Balanchine introduces New York City Ballet principals Patricia Wilde and Nicholas Magallanes, who dance with MacManus and Flanagan. Illustrating how a choreographer works with music, mood, and the dancers in order to create a ballet, Balanchine then choreographs some variations to "Yankee Doodle" for Wilde, Magallanes, and Carolyn George. After Fox gives a brief synopsis of Balanchine's ballet "The Nutcracker," the program concludes with the ballet's Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux, performed first by Wilde and Magallanes, then in costume by New York Ballet principals Tanaquil LeClercq and Jacques d'Amboise. Fox then questions d'Amboise about "The Nutcracker" and upcoming tours. Includes promos. (This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 26, 1956 12:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:48
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:27473
- GENRE: Children's; Dance; Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Children's programs; Education;
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1955-1958
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Adventure"
- TV - Promos - "The Ed Sullivan Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Jack Benny Show"
CREDITS
- Stephen Fleischman … Producer
- Jack Kuney … Associate Producer
- Roger Englander … Director
- Craig Gilbert … Writer
- Selig Alkon … Story Editor
- Sonny Fox (See also: Irwin Fox) … Host¥
- George Balanchine … Guest
- Ginger MacManus … Guest
- Pud Flanagan (See also: Brian Flanagan) … Guest
- Jacques d'Amboise … Dancer
- Tanaquil LeClercq … Dancer
- Carolyn George … Dancer
- Nicholas Magallanes … Dancer
- Patricia Wilde … Dancer
- Zina Bethune
- New York City Ballet
- School of American Ballet