On Balanchine’s Act II pas de Deux in Midsummer Nights Dream: “But brief as it was, the change from many dancers to just two gave a...

Maria Tallchief on Scotch Symphony: “One effect in the adagio was inspired by the way goddesses, sylphs and fairies were made to fly...

Suzanne Farrell wrote: “I was cast as one of four tall fairies in Titania's retinue; Diana Adams was Titania. One day while we were...

When Balanchine was 8 years old, he was an elf in a theatrical production of Midsummer at the Mikhailovsky Theater in Russia. Later, he...

“The pas de deux with Titania and bottom in the donkey’s head is the jewel at the heart of the ballet. It is Balanchine’s triumph as a...

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon and Titania are King and Queen of the fairies. Balanchine was very specific in his use of stage...

In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck is a mischievous fairy who is a servant to Oberon, the fairy king. Originally danced by Arthur...

Three Balanchine Duets* Part 1 *commissioned for the Vail Dance Festival This week, Vail’s International Evenings of Dance performances...

On Scotch Symphony Allegra Kent said, "There were theories—I was too sylphlike, not sylphlike enough; I was really a sylph, I was a girl...

Balanchine's Scotch Symphony was not expected to last long in the repertory. The scenery and music create an ambiance that is nearly...

Tonight NYCB's season opens with 3 ballets, one of which being Balanchine's Scotch Symphony. The ballet originally featured Maria...

(12/12) “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did...

(11/12) Here are a few miscellaneous photos that didn’t fit a specific topic, but were too beautiful not to share. (top left) Kyra...

(10/12) From everything I’ve read over the years, it seems clear that Balanchine never passed up an opportunity to dance. He would often...

(8/12) The Oberon variation has been described by dancers as one of the fastest and most difficult male variations that Balanchine...

(9/12) Patty originated the role of Hermia, however, the first photo shows her as Titania a few years later. I love the photos of...

(7/12) "Kay Mazzo’s authoritative, moving portrayal as Titania, cannot be praised enough as an example of artistic growth. It is a fully...

(6/12) Oberon, King of the Fairies Eddie Villella, who originated the role spoke of the experience in his autobiography: “It was simply a...

(5/12) Titania, Queen of the Fairies (top, left) Suzanne as Titania and Nolan T’Sani as her Cavalier, 1975. (top, center) Suzanne as...

(2/12) Here are additional photos from the original 1962 production. When Balanchine was a child, he was an elf in a production of...