The preservation of choreography relies on many factors, foremost of which is the process dancers themselves refer to as “hand-to-hand.” Even when a choreographer is alive and working, dancers who created roles or danced them originally are called upon to assist with the process of passing on the steps and, more importantly, the intention of the work, to the next generation.
The George Balanchine Foundation is fortunate to possess an ongoing video archive of the work of this master choreographer of the 20th century. This trove of treasured images is shared here for the first time. The fruits of the decades-long work of contemporary video archives are on display in the form of photographs by dance photographer Costas, accompanied by archive photos by Brian Rushton that explore the early years.
The cast of coaches includes such legendary names as Maria Tallchief, Suzanne Farrell, Jacques d’Amboise, Allegra Kent and Edward Villella. The dancers with whom they work include many stars of the New York City Ballet, other major companies, as well as rising young dancers who perform works by Balanchine today.
The book also includes reflections on the coaching process by dance scholars, critics, and participants. And the vivid photos tell a story far more eloquently than might be imagined in still images. They show process, how something as simple as a few dancers in a room learning the heart of a role in a ballet can be transformative, especially when those ballets belong to the immortal dance genius George Balanchine.