Ballet Performance Videos - Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake.

Prima ballerina Zizi Jeanmaire performs the works of world-renowned choreographer/dancer Roland Petit and delivers an emotional and passionate tribute to the acclaimed artist. This magnificent program contains three dance pieces, shot on film, that showcase the superlative Zizi Jeanmaire along with ballet greats Rudolf Nureyev, Dirk Sanders, and the one and only Roland Petit. Carmen: Carmen is the historical ballet that marks the debut of Roland Petit as a choreographer and the dancing debut of prima ballerina Zizi Jeanmaire. In an erotic and emotionally charged performance, Jeanmaire and Petit take on the roles of the fatal lovers, and deliver an astounding performance. Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort (The Young Man and The Death): Jeanmaire is joined by dance legend Rudolf Nureyev in what has become a cult repertoire ballet-the quintessential result of the prolific reunion between Jean Cocteau and Roland Petit. Le Croqueuse de Diamants (The Gold Digger): This rare historical ballet marks Roland Petit's foray into the world of musical comedy. Jeanmaire sings and dances in the role of the Gold Digger and is teamed with dance great Dirk Sanders. 80 mins. (2005) DVD-All Region.

Originally founded in 1773, the Bolshoi Ballet is one of the world's most renowned dance companies. Famous for its dramatic performances, the company has become a symbol of excellence in the classical Russian tradition and gained a nearly mythical reputation in the West. This stunning collection presents three classic ballets by some of the Bolshoi Ballet's most legendary stars. Includes: Romeo and Juliet, starring Natalia Bessmertnova and Mikhail Lavorosky, Giselle, also starring Natalia Bessmertnova and Mikhail Lavrosky, and The Nutcracker, with Vladimir Vasiliev and Yekaterina Maximova (in the first act) and Vyacheslav Gordeyev and Nadia Pavlova starring in the second act. 280 mins. (2004) DVD-Region 1.

Regarded as the greatest of all the classical ballets, this spectacular production was filmed live in Russia at the Maryinsky Theater featuring the Kirov Ballet. Tchaikovsky's score, the first in his trimvirate of ballets, is the perfect compliment to this masterpiece, the greatest romantic ballet of all-time. Prima ballerina Galina Mezentseva gives a memorable in the dual role of Odette/Odile, and Konstatin Zalinsky portrays Prince Siegfried. Choreography by Lev Ivanovich Ivanov and Marius Petipa. 144 mins. (1992) DVD-All-Region.

It is difficult to believe today that Swan Lake was a failure on its first production in 1877 and was not a success until the Petipa/Ivanov version of 1895. Today it is regarded as one of the greatest works in the art of ballet. The magic of Tchaikovsky’s music, embodying the love of Prince Siegfried for the enchanted Swan Queen has greatly contributed to making this the best loved of all classical ballets. This production, with designs by the late Leslie Hurry, stars Natalia Makarova as Odette-Odile and Anthony Dowell as Prince Siegfried. Prince Siegfried celebrates his twenty-first birthday; his mother tells him it is time to marry but he prefers to go hunting. Alone, by a lakeside, he sees a swan who turns to human form. She is an enchanted princess who can be saved only by true love. He promises this, but is tricked by the wicked magician who disguises his own daughter as the swan-maiden. In despair, Siegfried and the swan-maiden leap to death together and their sacrifice destroys the evil power. 137 mins. (1982) DVD-Region 1.

Fernando Bujones, principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, performs the much beloved “Sleeping Beauty” as the guest artist of the Ballet del Teatro Municipal. The program was recorded during a live performance March 29, 1982, at the 125th anniversary performance of the magnificent Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile. The company of 60 dancers, under the Artistic Direction of Mr. Ivan Nagy, is an impressive classical company of outstanding artistic level. The beautiful sets and costumes were designed by Carlos Carvalho, one of the best contemporary designers. This production recreates as faithfully as possible the version staged by Nicholas Sergeyev for London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, premiered in 1939 by Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpman. 120 mins. (2006) DVD-All-Region.

Ballet in a prologue and three acts. Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Choreography: Marius Petipa. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House – Leader: Vasko Vassilev. Producer: Anthony Dowell. Designer: Maria Bjornson. Stage Lighting: Pat Collins. Cast – Princess Aurora: Viviana Durante. Prince Florimund: Zoltan Solymosi. Carabosse: Anthony Dowell. The Lilac Fairy: Benazir Hussein. King Florestan: William Tuckett. The Queen: Elizabeth MCGorian. Court Chamberlain Cattalabutte: David Drew. Artists of the Royal Ballet. Executive Producer: Revel Guest. Producer: Jane Pleydell-Bouverie. Director: Colin Nears. 132 mins. (1994) DVD-All-Region.

Starring: Aurelie Dupont, Manuel Legris, Vincent Cordier, Nathalie Quernet. Conductor: David Coleman. Choreographer: Rudolf Nureyev. Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Sleeping Beauty remains, as Rudolf Nureyev often called it, the ‘ballet of ballets’. It is the most accomplished and the most brilliant, as well as one of the most spectacular of the 19th century, and the most representative of the ‘noble’ style of classical dancing. Rudolf Nureyev's version, which he created for the Opera Ballet in 1989, was recorded at the Opéra Bastille in 1999, in a new production (sets and costumes) created by his faithful collaborators, Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino, who had already produced Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and La Bayadère. 148 mins. (2006) DVD-Region 1.

This fascinating look at world of international ballet competitions features a young Mikhail Baryshnikov competing and winning in Moscow in 1969. The Moscow International Competition of Ballet Artists at the Bolshoi Theater attracts young dancers from around the world to compete for gold and silver medals, much like the Olympics. In this acclaimed film of the 1969 Competition, Baryshnikov performs an excerpt from La Bayadere and a solo from an original ballet by Leonid Jakobson entitled Vestris. Also featured in this historic documentary is a young Ludmila Semenyaka performing a scene from Act III of Giselle. 71 mins. (2007) DVD-All-Region.

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William Forsythe's research into ways of engendering and organizing movement has led him to pursue counterpoint, proprioperception, entrainment, and authenticity for organizational principles that also allow improvisation. Artistic director and choreographer of the Ballet Frankfurt and himself trained in ballet, Forsythe shows an appreciation of and often a critical engagement with classical dance, transforming and revitalizing it. When he works collaboratively, Forsythe challenges the traditional distinction between choreographer and dancer, thus questioning hierarchy, authorship and disciplinary boundaries. 78 mins. (2007) DVD-Region 1.

The Kirov Ballet performs this beautiful ballet in this classic color motion picture from 1965. This is based on the original choreography by Marius Petipa starring ballerina Alla Sizova as Princess Aurora. 84 mins. (2007) DVD-All-Region.

The aristocratic beauty of the Bolshoi Ballet brings this acclaimed production of Swan Lake alive with ennobling presence and artistry. Natalia Bessmertnova is soft and lyrical in the dual role of Odette and Odile; her eminently feminine quality makes her the ideal interpreter of this classic. The elegance and magnetism of Siegfried is masterfully portrayed by Alexander Bogatyrev. With exquisitely designed sets, and a dance corps whose skill rivals that of the principal ballerinas. This historic production was choreographed by the critically acclaimed master Yuri Grigorvich, with Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed by the Moscow Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Algis Zhuraitis. 117 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region.