GREAT PERFORMANCES: DANCE IN AMERICA: A NIGHT AT THE JOFFREY (TV)
Summary
One in this dance series presented under the umbrella of "Great Performances." In this program, the Joffrey Ballet pays tribute to their founder, Robert Joffrey (1930-1988), in a performance of three works: "Monotones II," choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton; "Love Songs" by William Forsythe; and "Round of Angels" by Gerald Arpino. Preceding each ballet is a brief interview with its choreographer about the conception and meaning of the work. Ashton (who died in 1988 shortly after being interviewed for this program) discusses his relationship with Robert Joffrey and the influences for "Monotones II," a dreamlike dance set to Trois GymnopŽdies by Erik Satie (orchestrated by Claude Debussy and Alexis Roland-Manuel), which is danced by Glenn Edgerton, Tom Mossbrucker and Elizabeth Parkinson. In the next work, entitled "Love Songs," characters parody the upheavals and frustrations of romantic relationships. Choreographed by Forsythe to recordings by Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, the dramatic dance has become a mainstay of the Joffrey repertoire, and Forsythe discusses its inception. Choreographed by Arpino, artistic director of The Joffrey Ballet, "Round of Angels" is set to the Adagietto from Mahler's Symphony No. 5. Arpino describes his close association with Robert Joffrey and the inspiration for this tender, moving work, whose creation followed the death of a very close friend.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 28, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:28216
- GENRE: Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Biography; Dance; Dance - Analysis, appreciation; Orchestral music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- Judy Kinberg … Producer, Director
- Thomas Grimm … Producer, Director
- Holly Brubach … Writer
- Film Symphonic Orchestra, Prague … Symphony Orchestra
- Allan Lewis … Conductor
- For "Monotones II":
- Frederick Ashton … Choreographer
- Erik Satie … Composer
- Claude Debussy … Orchestration by
- Alexis Roland-Manuel … Orchestration by
- Glenn Edgerton … Dancer
- Tom Mossbrucker … Dancer
- Elizabeth Parkinson … Dancer
- For "Love Songs":
- William Forsythe … Choreographer
- Aretha Franklin … Singer
- Dionne Warwick … Singer
- Carole Valleskey … Dancer
- Leslie Carothers … Dancer
- Charlene Gehm … Dancer
- Glenn Edgerton … Dancer
- Jodie Gates … Dancer
- Beatriz Rodriguez … Dancer
- Philip Jerry … Dancer
- Tom Mossbrucker … Dancer
- For "Round of Angels":
- Gerald Arpino … Choreographer
- Gustav Mahler … Composer
- Leslie Carothers … Dancer
- Ashley Wheater … Dancer
- Patrick Corbin … Dancer
- Douglas Martin … Dancer
- Tom Mossbrucker … Dancer
- Peter Narbutas … Dancer
- Tyler Walter … Dancer