Violette Verdy on Balanchine: "He Gave Valentines to Each One of Us"

[@nkiinsta]

This is a gift. Thank you for sharing this insightful and inspiring commentary/demo. One can only hope that the generations that shared Balanchine's insights will continue to contribute to our ongoing development of the ballet technique.

[@judithricca6915]

What a treat seeing Violette Verdy passing Balanchine on to current dancers. I must say it is good to see Jennifer Ringer, who retired from NYCB in 2014; she will always be one of my favorite ballerinas.

[@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist]

Ms. Verdy was one of a kind. Her vocabulary is truly inspiring in this video. I always loved her red shoes!

[@lazarocedeno5270]

I can only offer tears of joy and gratitude. Thanks for your glorious work. Deeply appreciated .

[@emitch9213]

I came across a studio photo of Violette Verdy in 1967. I knew that I wanted to be that image of her lovely photo. Little did I know that I would be in a west coast Florida studio where she and Villella would teach a master class. How lovely an individual her joy and enthusiasm filled the studio. Her charismatic love to all taking the master class was like a mother watching her first born taking her first step. What a history she held of the ballet to genuinely be delighted to pass onto others. How rich her knowledge. Thank you for the video. What a pleasure to see Ms. Verdy. She made that first ballet impression.

[@HowardDando]

It is a joy to watch this video and remember the 'Valentines' Violette gave to her fellow dancers and the love she gave to her associates, friends and to the world with her grace and charm. And bravo to the elegant Tiler Peck.

[@pedinurse1]

She was the first ballerina I saw at the NYC Ballet as a very young teen, and I fell in love with Ballet!!!

[@janetroy5489]

It is true, what Violette conveys in words. I saw a master class with Andras Schiff on Bach once and he had a similar way. I'll never forget--some section, he said when played it said (perhaps) "this is the meaning of life!"

[@marissaventre222]

Wow Tiler Peck is on fire.

[@42abyz]

Yes, I told myself she is in power mode. Her dancing is such a pleasure to watch. Energetic and electrifying!!!

[@erikahansen6959]

Tiler is a choreographer's/artistic director's dream.

[@thomasbuttig9888]

What it is really awesome is how Mme Verdy still, after so many years, knew exactly all the notes ! Amazing.

[@annbrixey9651]

Someone loves the sound of his own voice.

[@donschwellenbach5461]

that woman is energetic and super intelligent, I mean Mis Verdy, what a mind

[@richardvergara]

Did anyone else think this was so self-indulgent for Damian Woetzel?

[@andrelinafreitas5042]

he tires me

[@valiantmar]

I couldn't roll my eyes enough....

[@kellymac2404]

i wish Violette would have been able to speak more without being interrupted

[@xiomara-spg]

what a blessing .....thank you God...how inspiring::!!!

[@TwoMileTimedTrial]

I hate how much the dude interrupted her

[@MrQbenDanny]

BRAVO!!!VIVA VERDI!!! If you want to see everything LA VERDI meant in the Tchaikovsky notes, watch Gelsey Kirkland do it. It's on KZbin.

[@SCAScienceLab]

Wish I could have been there to see this in person!

[@miazhong53]

OMG I'm dying to see the end of it!

[@balletmadxxxxc2060]

same

[@kdub10009]

Love love love

[@lazarocedeno5270]

Muchísimas gracias.

[@Fancyday23]

What an inspirational lecture! Thank you.❤

[@susanlondoner1946]

BRAVO!

[@squalter.kaufmann]

The Peckster 👏🏻

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Jenifer Ringer is so incredibly beautiful 🤩 ❤! It’s hard to believe that she has been so badly bodyshamed, especially by dance critic Alastair Maculair in the New York Times. She is a gorgeous dancer, and it makes really me sad to think about it, because this whole story affected her mental health. 😭 I can highly recommend her book, „Dancing through it“.

[@lazarocedeno5270]

Exquisito.

[@donschwellenbach5461]

OMG my beautiful and grand Tchy's Pas de Deux in reherasal clothing with shorts, no no no, this is probaby MrB's grandest piece, when I first saw this on stage I just about cried

[@lazarocedeno5270]

Bravo

[@philipdavis6207]

Charming, cute ... !

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Why are they are all laughing at 25.38?

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Why does he talk so much 🙄

[@rufusred44]

I appreciate the intention of this event at the City Center lead by Damian Woetzel, I admire, respect and I'm a fan of all of the dancers here both current and past. I suppose I have a few criticisms, couldn't the dancers wear more flattering rehearsal clothes? Also, I gotta say, did Damian have to show that he can still dance? What, they had no one else out of all of NYCB that could've done the finale of Donizetti Variations? Hmm.

[@TMT-4869]

Joaquin de Luz was supposed to do it, but he was injured. Daniel Ulbricht subbed in for the solos, but he had never danced it before. I'm sure it's much more tricky to schedule dancers on short notice.

[@rufusred44]

I'm sure you're correct, I suppose it's just the optics.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

more flattering rehearsal clothes? those would be called costumes. What they wore here was 1000% more reserved than what they really wear in rehearsal ... they matched their attire to the event and the audience - completely appropriate.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

you're just incorrect (but I'll bet you get that a lot!) oh, well .. you'll always have at least one thumbs up since you upvote your own comments!!

[@gzucc]

What is this mess?

[@pedinurse1]

Why is she wearing shorts, really???

[@blue14428]

So what?!

[@susannevollmer2347]

I think Tyler wants: the great Mrs. Verdi has to see everything at once.

[@kathleennelson3465]

A sheer skirt would’ve been nice