Valse Fantaisie (Glinka/Balanchine)

Here's a pristine video from the 1973 film in Berlin with Sara Leland and John Clifford in the leads (Clifford and Mimi Paul danced the 1967 premiere). With Merrill Ashley, Deborah Flomine, Susan Hendl, and Suzanne Pilarre. Balanchine had choreographed an earlier version for one man and three women, but kept this version; which is still being danced today.

[@brendadufaur37]

What a wonderful piece. Clifford has ballon and such clean, beautiful technique. High elevation. A refined, handsome, elegant dancer. Joy in the performance. Airy precision. Breezy. He is so light. He covers the floor effortlessly. His legs are beautiful. He has those sissoring jumps and movements. LeLand is so good. A delight. A beautiful dancer. Such long limbs...Joyful. Effortless. They are wonderful. I love this piece. I love the music. I've never seen this until now, although I've known about it forever. What a wonderful capturement of a great gem. I'm so grateful to see it. I keep watching it. It just keeps coming at you, this non-stop precision of romping, beauty, music and movement. It's like this encasement, this domain of this wonderful thing. Balanchine. You feel him with every movement.

[@simaraft7373]

Superb. Except for the cinematography it just can't get any better than this. I agree Clifford is the quintessential Balanchine dancer. Everything works so perfectly.

[@lazarocedeno5270]

Glorious. Heavenly. Angels in Heaven dancing. Dear Sally and Jon.

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Ciò che più colpisce in tale balletto è il grande senso dell'impadronimento da parte dei ballerini dello spazio proscenico e la grande e coordinata ritmia che si collettivizza alla perfezione corollario danzante. BRAVISSIMI.BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO

[@CatsEyeBeauty]

I was super blessed when Violette Verdi set this on our company back in the 80's. I can still remember the counts. Thank you for sharing this! ❤ I knew that was Merrill Ashley! And Suzy Hendl! ❤

[@MrQbenDanny]

BRAVO!! BRAVISSIMO!!! VIVA CLIFFORD!!! Here is the maddening brilliance the great George BALANCHINE fell in love with JOHN Clifford. Here is a masterpiece display of fantastic dancing with the stars, and an enjoyable feast of difficult choreography. Watch the variation a few times and marvel at the perfectionism of ballet academia, and the MOST beautiful brises ever seen, on the music and beat placement. No other Principal at NYCB has EVER come close to the definitive guide performance given by Clifford. When I saw him onstage in this or any other ballet it was a surge of energy and blissful state watching him. JOHN CLIFFORD was the definition of "Balanchine Dancer". (PLEASE delete Peter Martins from this post, Gracias.)

[@simaraft7373]

So true. Clifford was practically the only virtuoso male dancer at NYCB.

[@cristianrey1032]

I have seen both this and the 1958 version. Amd bith are gorgeous.

[@erpollock]

John Clifford was a brilliant danseur - such leaps and stage presence. I first saw this in a NYC Workshop production and it blew me away. So glad you posted this, John. I thought I recognized Merrill Ashley. It is really early, 1973, so you worked with Balanchine.

[@ulrikeschmid-ascheid4911]

Wundervoll! Danke!

[@flightydancer]

Wow! Ballet to perfection!

[@scottgilmore7319]

Beautiful! Bravissimo!

[@maryangeladouglas]

Extraordinary.

[@GariGold]

Magnificent all around. I’ll revisit this I’m sure. Mr. Clifford, that tid bit that took you off at about 4:30 is a tour of some kind or beaten voile is a treasure. 🙏 for posting.

[@ningsun626]

You were truly amazing John! Thank you for posting this wonderful piece

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Non un attimo di pausa in questo cursus continuum motile improntato a giocosita' felice e levità quasi eterea con notevolissimi slanci elanisti .Sensazione praesens di aerea leggerezza e levità. BRAVISSIMI TUTTI COMPRESO IL COROLLARIO DANZANTE. Bighin Giulio Renzo

[@mayaparker6323]

Stupendous !! Joy to see such an excellence !!

[@markbeck8384]

Terrific dancing, and SO fast. Nice clean filming. I really enjoyed it

[@victoriapulkkinen4691]

Beautiful !

[@movingpicutres99]

Thank you!

[@priscillavelazquezs]

You look so handsome here!

[@porgiamor]

Bravo John! I don’t mind close-ups on you. 😉

[@gstavella]

Whenever I find myself in a cranky mood I click on ‘Glinka’ and its joy and energy takes over. John, thanks for posting! BTW, in addition to you and Sally, who are the ensemble ladies? It looks like baby Helene Alexopoulos, and maybe baby Merrill?

[@jcliff26]

Thanks so much but years before Helene. The four ladies are Merrill Ashley, Susan Hendl, Susan Pillare, and Deborah Flomine.

[@teresaoskar4696]

Paryashchie , legkie, krasivye.

[@chicroboom3204]

Perfect villain theme 7:28

[@msbeejones]

is sara leland tall? if not, she *dances* tall. ❤

[@jcliff26]

Not really. Maybe 5’ 5”. Long limbs though.

[@msbeejones]

@@jcliff26 thank you for answering. you both look great!

[@melissaanderson9183]

Seems like NYCB was much better back then.

[@funnydude4567]

Hm. I'm conflicted, because as wonderful as Balanchine is, at various moments [as well as generally with the male dancer], a symphonic [or continuous volitional impulse] through-line seemed to be missing, and it was most evident with the contrived repetitiousness of the choreography which, I am aware was made to mimic the motivic repetition of the music. I just cannot help but sense it was either constructed quickly or with shapes instead of movement in mind.

[@TOM-vz8us]

I also got sort of a shapes rather then movement feeling from it! Like there are a lot of pretty poses to pause the video at, but not that much "glue" in between them, if that makes sense lol

[@simaraft7373]

@@TOM-vz8us Shape rather than movement... seriously?!

[@cynthiafletcher9845]

Absolutely beautiful choreography!! The dancers were amazing!! C❤❤

[@svegso9797]

Wow! Love this! I am so very happy to see it, brought tears to my eyes- cant stop watching it. Had never seen Valse Fantaisie before this. But this is the City Ballet dancing I recall- so sharp, so fast and crystalline, the unbelievable precision of the phrasing - that wall of rushing energy . It is like being in a lighting storm even viewed from a computer screen. I find the solos utterly heart stopping. The level of exhilarating commitment in every single step- no fear, no holding back.. That insane and perfect traveling in the air and across the stage. The beautiful faces. And the choreography...no words. Where did this kind of dancing go? Can it ever come back? And when will someone realize that not being able to see more recordings like this of Balanchine work in full harms future dancers and future choreographers? In summary: Thank you so much for posting this Mr. Clifford.

[@brendadufaur37]

Beautifully said Svegso. It's such a complex thing - to describe the same thing but which is done completely differently. Past and present. That particular quality of the dancing, of the style, of the everything.

[@philipkuttner7945]

Thank you for posting the delightfully charming Glinka, which I had never seen. You all looked like you were having a marvelous time!

[@alenales1384]

С такой интересной хореографией Глинка звучит очень современно.

[@janeblackie7788]

Fantastic John, thanks so much for this. You hardly got one moment to breathe - phenomenal leaps, phenomenal stamina ! What year was this, approx.?

[@jcliff26]

1973

[@dancinggiraffe6058]

John Clifford: Thank you for posting this. I never saw NYCB while you were in it, so it is a pleasure to see you dance, with your beautifully high, light jumps, speed, and joy in dancing. But sometimes it was obscured by the overactive camera work! Was this the same crew that did the "Liebeslieder Waltzer" TV production with McBride, Verdy, Von Aroldingen, et al.? There was far too much zooming in that one, too.

[@jcliff26]

Yes. Same Berlin filming. They screwed up so many ballets. Only SYMPHONY IN C was done well. It’s on KZbin too.

[@dancinggiraffe6058]

@@jcliff26 Thanks. I'll look for that one. And thanks for putting up so many great videos.

[@kurtfroman]

what a clean copy of this

[@jcliff26]

I know! Markie Polo originally posted it.

[@kurtfroman]

John Clifford it seems like these European arts channels rebroadcast them in such clean resolution. They are able to license the original film footage.

[@jcliff26]

Kurt Froman Guess so...at last!

[@nan2kaye]

Watching this is the antidote to Trump. So joyful!

[@meggyfarnsworth626]

Nancy Kaye Trump 2020! 😘

[@seanmcgouran4091]

Is John Clifford actually a Sexy-Angle? He hasn't gor the - ahem - somewhat over-developed gluteals (? spelling) Anglos tend to have.

[@jcliff26]

Thank you...but I hope you meant “Angel”