NYCB Vol. 14 No. 3 - Allegro Brillante

Maria Tallchief: “In Allegro Brillante George extended aspects of classical technique beyond anything I had done before. Rather than turning from a regular fourth position and stopping right on the music without moving, which is difficult enough, I was required to turn from a deeper preparation. I’d position my back foot in a deep fourth almost to the floor. Up on pointe, I’d spin twice and finish in the same deep fourth.

“Because of the emphatic, almost exaggerated preparation, the turns gained a weighty, solid propulsion. They made a great impression, and after a while became less difficult. The Tchaikovsky piano concerto is truly dramatic, almost wild and energetic, and I think those swooping, lunging turns really expressed its heart and pulse.”

Quotes from “Maria Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina”

Below is footage from a 1966 television performance which had changes to the choreography to account for the small space of the TV studio set.