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A Letter from Stephen Pier, Director of Dance, The Hartt School
"Although it has taken me a while, I am thrilled to be sending you some photos from our Fall Concert's production of Dark Elegies. As you can so clearly see in these images, the students were able to go quite deeply into the work and world of Tudor through the careful guidance of Donald Mahler and Hilda Morales.
These young dancers were thinking and feeling on a much deeper level than they had ever before had the opportunity to explore previously. I can honestly say that they were changed through this experience. It has left a mark on them and altered their course in some profound way.
I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to immerse our students in these great works of art." - Stephen Pier, Director of Dance, The Hartt School
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Thank you for your Comments!
"Since my admiration of Tudor goes back to the Spring of 1945, when I saw Pillar of Fire (Alicia Alonso was dancing one of the Lovers-in-Experience!), and have seen not only the familiar masterpieces but also such rarities as Shadow of the Wind, Nimbus, The Lady of the Camelias, La Gloire, Ronde de Printemps, you can understand that I took a great interest in your book..." - Richard Covello, Arts Adminstrator, NIB Foundation
"What a treasure to have (the DVD)... especially seeing those beautiful young dancers performing Tudor's work with such honesty, clarity and simplicity. Exquisite, just exquisite!! - Gary Masters
"I loved the photos and the remembrances, particulary of Pina Bausch. It was amazing to see Pina say that Tudor called her "Adolf" - the whimsy of that! What a story! If it wasn't for you Pina would have taken a story like that to her grave." - Donna Perlmutter, Author, Shadowplay, The Life of Antony Tudor
"Thank you for sending me the beautiful book of the Antony Tudor Centennial, it was an honor for me and the JKO/ABT students to be a part of it." - Franco De Vita, Principal, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre
Purchase a Centennial Book/DVD and Support an Endowed Tudor Scholarship at The Juilliard School! |
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Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, on Tudor Ballets and Shadowplay at The Met, May 24-26:
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Kevin McKenzie and Antony Tudor rehearsing Lilac Garden |
I have always considered the "Theatre" part of the name "American Ballet Theatre" to be largely attributable to Antony Tudor. His dramatic and emotional ballets played a big part in guiding the company and its dancers through its unique rise to international prominence.
One of the reasons that we sought over a decade ago to reestablish ABT's presence at City Center was in order to present Mr. Tudor's works. Certain ballets get lost in the immensity of Metropolitan Opera House and are better served by the more intimate setting that City Center provides. At City Center, during what became our annual Fall season, we commissioned new productions of Dim Lustre and Pillar of Fire, and revived Gala Performance, Jardin Aux Lilas, Dark Elegies, The Leaves are Fading, Judgment of Paris, Offenbach in the Underworld and the pas de deux from Romeo & Juliet.
So this last decade we have fared well on a steady diet of Tudor. But the list never seems complete. And it is nice to include Tudor ballets at our lengthier New York season at the Met each spring. Two works I have wanted to revive since I came on as Artistic Director of ABT were ballets that would work well on a bigger stage: his Romeo & Juliet and Shadowplay. Romeo & Juliet, regrettably, holds a rather intimidating financial commitment, and we do not presently have the resources to reconstruct the sets and costumes. And Shadowplay has been on my plan a number of times through the years but has always fallen victim to the "Sophie's Choice" I face regularly when forced to decide between an important revival or a brand new work. |
However all good things come to those
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Shadowplay - Royal Opera House. Photo Courtesy: ABT |
who wait: this season Shadowplay returns to our rep at the Met after a more than 30-year absence, on a program with three brand new premieres by some of the most sought-after choreographers of our age - comparisons no doubt will be made.
I first saw Shadowplay in 1975, before I joined ABT, and it intrigued me greatly. It is one of the last of Tudor's psychological ballets. Steeped in the elements of danger and sexual attraction, the surprising resolve of the story line leaves one in awe of the command that Tudor had to manipulate one's attention. I greatly enjoyed watching this dark and rather ironic work then, and I look forward to watching the current company bringing it back to life.
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Jonas Kåge, Former Director of Ballet West, on the "Magic" of Tudor Ballets:
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Jonas Kåge and Gelsey Kirkland in Leaves are Fading - ABT 1975. Photo: Martha Swope |
"Tudor created Leaves are Fading for ABT in the 70's with Gelsey and me being particularly featured. Tudor worked intensely and quickly, comparatively speaking, and was incredibly nervous having not created a new ballet for years. To see him reach deep into himself and pull out what he did was heart rendering for all of us involved....
Like with all dance works that have become classics, every new generation will discover and appreciate their magic. The characteristics of Tudor's work and genius would appear quite narrow in today's dance spectrum, and yet as his prism of works slides into view they shine like strong and bright beacons. The ballets often deal with human relations, conflicts, as well as social issues and will therefore always be relevant - I must add that I am always amazed by the technique required. |
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Tudor Curtain Call - Leaves are Fading |
Although his works are often psychologically complex, Tudor manages to portray the emotion in a musical score with brilliant simplicity. I find that most of his ballets and his choreographic style have managed to avoid trends and clichés. Or is it that he was completely uninterested and unaffected by trends? I tend to think so...."
Click here to read more: |
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A Message from Adria Rolnik, Web Coordinator and Archivist:
Facebook and Twitter are hotter than ever and our pages and followers have been growing at a steady pace. It's exciting to see so much interest in Antony Tudor and his genius from all corners of the globe. Our FB and Twitter followers include fans from the USA, South America, Eastern and Western Europe and the Far East. Fans are comprised of dancers, students, ballet companies, reporters, bloggers, and dance aficionados. We are thrilled! If you haven't checked us out already, please visit us on Facebook and Twitter and join us - become a fan, follow our Tweets, post your photos, tell us your thoughts. Thank you for connecting! |
More about our Centennial Book and DVD
Our 137 page hardcover "coffee table" book features an impressive array of black and white photographs of Antony Tudor throughout his illustrious career and dozens of written "remembrances" and photos from Tudor dancers and students.
Our 90-minute DVD features interviews, demonstrations of Tudor classes, and more. All proceeds from the sale of these items go toward an endowed Tudor scholarship at The Juilliard School.
Click here for sneak peek! |
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