En Pointe

Alexandra Danilova in Le Bal (1929), costume by Giorgio de Chirico


It has been a long while since our last ballet post. Let's remedy the situation by celebrating the birth date of Alexandra Danilova, born on this date in 1903.

One of the greatest prima ballerinas of her generation, Danilova made an indelible mark on the art of dance both upon the stage and within the studio as a teacher. Sadly, there is very little footage of her performances easily available, just brief clips and fragmentary shots, flashes of her grace and poise.

But it is clear, from these images and the testimony of her audience, Danilova was a wonder of motion.

Alexandra Danilova in Swan Lake

So, let's take a moment today to appreciate the beauty of ballet and the artistry of a legendary performer.

Here are a couple vids:

Alexandra Danilova and Frederic Franklin in "Gaite Parisienne"

Performance from the "Dinah Shore Show" (1959) with Tony Randall

Enjoy!!!