George Balanchine dances in British film from 1929 1

What we have here is not “Apollo.” That’s putting it mildly. But it’s still a very amusing, even amazing, piece of historic dance footage that’s making the rounds on Facebook. George Balanchine himself dances in a rather crude bit of his own choreography “Dark Red Roses,” in a British-made early talkie. Appearing in the pas de trois with Mr. B are his Ballets Russes mates, Anton Dolin and Lydia Lopokova.

The comparison to “Apollo” is not gratuitous. Balanchine’s groundbreaking ballet, a rarefied work of art made by the then-24-year-old choreographer for his boss Sergei Diaghilev, preceded “Dark Red Roses” by only a year or so. The contrast in choreography for the staged “Apollo” and what’s seen in “Dark” is striking.

I interpret the difference as the lower value placed on film versus live performance. Probably the trio blocked out the “Dark Red Rose” bit fifteen minutes before filming it.

_{Thank you Nick Wallace Smith, I enjoy your posts on youtube. Thank you Elizabeth Zimmer.}

Like this? Read more:

• Ballerina Yvonne Mounsey coaches Balanchine’s “The Prodigal Son” (Los Angeles Times)
• Lorenz Hart taught Balanchine (American) English
• What makes a Balanchine ballerina (on Carol Sumner)
• Serenade: C’est un ballet abstrait.
• America’s greatest immigrant: George Balanchine