Fancy Free

From 1986. NYC Ballet. Choreography by Jerome Robbins.

[@vsoltero88]

I remember watching this on PBS when I was probably around 5 years old. I still remembered it after all this years. It's amazing to me that I managed to find it again. I remembered Joe Duell in it and watching him now is such a bittersweet pleasure. His dancing here brings me joy. So sad.

[@marks1417]

Jerome Robbins dedicated Quiet City, music by Copland, to Duell's memory.

[@karenkaren3189]

I wish that Joe Duell could have known that his dancing would still be giving so much pleasure, 30 years on.

[@craigkier]

I loved this show as a 20-something attending NYC Ballet. I can just imagine those wildly excited audiences in 1944 drinking all that magic in.

[@hank1519]

It's a masterpiece of music and choreography.

[@Plantangentguy]

This was part of my introduction the the cultural wonderland that is New York and one of the first thing I saw at Lincoln Center. What memories!

[@harmoniabalanza]

this is actually a very nuanced, sweet, and beautiful study in dance of innocent high jinx and the bursting high energy/comraderie of young manhood. It's not twisted or perverse, it's pure art.

[@nicoledubois3547]

This ballet is Robbins's supreme achievement. Never much cared for most of his ballets, but this one is as good as anything Balanchine ever did. Balanchine, of course, made many more masterpieces, but Robbins measured up with this one. And the performances here are sublime, particularly Joseph Duell's as the third sailor. His solo is gorgeous, his dancing so open, so beautifully shaped and nuanced. I cannot imagine anything better.

[@maseraticboychik]

Nicole Dubois "Faun" is his supreme achievement, but this is up there. Joe Duell's untimely death was one of the greatest losses of that period at NYCB. Everything he did was like this.

[@honeyjbc1]

Dances at a Gathering? In the Night? Other Dances? Robbins was a genius. I loved his ballets.

[@VFCourtney]

Fancy Free is my all-time favorite ballet! Stunning performances by every cast member!

[@donovan3535]

I just saw on On The Town. This is the ballet that inspired the show. Both are fantastic. So joyous!

[@honeyjbc1]

The 1914-15 version was stunning. It was robbed at the Tony's completely. I wish it would be televised with this cast. Tony Yazbeck! The whole cast.

[@alhambralions5985]

What a stunning performance. Imagine seeing this astounding innovation in 1944. Collaborative geniuses Bernstein and Robbins made music and movement that was completely new. What joy, to see and to hear. Thank you for sharing this. BEAUTY is making confinement bearable. (March 28, 2020)

[@gracewenzel]

I love the moment when the two girls recognize eachother as friends. Robbins could convey so much without need for a single word of dialogue. :)

[@cynthiat6505]

I love the music at around 20:00. I used to listen to this when I was a kid on my mom’s phonograph. Anything by Bernstein is magic!

[@LivingDove]

I took class with Joseph Duell in NYC in the early 80s. He was a nice person, and I miss him. It is so nice to see a ballet with him in it again!

[@karenkaren3189]

I'm glad there is this record of his dancing. I feel heartbroken that he took his life not too long afterwards….so much beauty, so much pain.

[@LivingDove]

I am glad there is this recording, too. Yes, it was tragic he killed himself in early 1986. That was just over 30 years ago. Hard to believe so much time has passed! He is with us in spirit, though.

[@LivingDove]

Years ago, I contacted a university at Dayton, Ohio, where Joseph was from, regarding him. They sent me some things from his file, including a script of a documentary about him, called, "The Hard Edge of Beauty." I wonder if it ever got made. It would be well worth making.

[@maseraticboychik]

He was not only a great dancer but a great guy. A horrendous loss.

[@karenkaren3189]

so sad, so sorry he couldn't overcome his emotional pain.. I have a son with severe emotional problems and a son who is an addict. I feel for him and for everyone who loves someone who is sick. I have watched this video many times, because it seems a way of paying tribute to him, and to his artistry and courage. sometimes people just get tired of living with mental illness-I think that is what happened to Robin Williams, for example. we must all try to be kind to each, that is the bottom line. peace.

[@CharlotteRuth]

I love this ballet. I love the dancing and music. I love jazz.

[@elainebmack]

I love the way Robbins captures masculine and feminine energy and nature without cheap effects. Real artistry here.

[@sisterheresy]

This has been my favorite ballet for about 30 years now. Just saw it again tonight with the ABT, and love it as much as ever

[@shinyfrancis]

Thank you for posting this, the timing is perfect! I'm writing an essay on Robbins due this Friday and I haven't been able to find this whole ballet anywhere. Yay!

[@windowtrimmer8211]

I’m crazy about the ending. Suddenly the orchestra kicks back in, there’s a surprise resolution to the tonic, and the guys bounce off stage.

[@ThaSchwab]

This is fast becoming my favorite music by Bernstein.

[@DamienSlattery68]

Wonderful!

[@victorimpaglione8040]

Un verdadero magnifico ballet que marca quizas la ❤😂❤😂❤😂❤😂❤😂❤❤ epoca mas interessante de la creazione americana

[@Elena60]

👏👏👏👏👏 Bravisimooo!!!

[@victorimpaglione8040]

Los solos de los bailarines son esplendidis😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@jordifuentesandres226]

Ballet moderno de L.bERNESTEIN CON MÚSICA CALLEJERA.

[@lorenzosimpson8039]

I wonder is the choreography for On The Town, the original Broadway Show, by Jerome Robbins extant ?

[@Feliandyx16]

Dou you have the video of this performance but with Baryshknikov ¡¡¡?????

[@gregjohnson2614]

+Feliandyx16 I believe he was the second sailor. When I saw him on video (maybe as part of PBS Robbins special?) Baryshnikov was spectacular and effortless. I particularly remember his "slides", which this guy didn't do very well. I would like to see Tony Yazbeck do this ballet. Wonder if he ever crosses to ballet from Broadway?

[@honeyjbc1]

Or Bujones as the Rhumba boy.

[@therussiangamer6997]

In my high school band, we had to perform the Danzón for a concert. Great Ballet but tbh the most boring piece I've ever played, but that's probably because I had like 35 consecutive measures of rest as a mallet player. Nonetheless, great to see where it came from

[@mayermargolis8990]

No one gives credit to Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music.

[@AndrewKosinskicomposer]

1:28, 14:56, 27:55

[@susannunes6196]

Both the dance and music were great.........

[@lucag7777]

21:08 simp

[@thricegreatart]

This choreography must be the most artistic version of sexual assault ever choreographed

[@maseraticboychik]

Ballet does do rape well......

[@honeyjbc1]

You are both sick

[@honeyjbc1]

unless you mean that the girls are doing the raping - but you are still both sick.

[@Phantomopery5]

Lmao!!

[@shayharper8953]

So it isn't just me. Thought so as well.

[@Fonseca429]

This is not classical ballet and not a full-length ballet.

[@donovan3535]

No..It's BRILLIANT ballet.

[@maseraticboychik]

Fonseca429 Right on both counts. LOL!

[@kevinharty1236]

Is there something wrong with those two facts?

[@AndrewRudin]

SO....?