No one can match her phrasing, impeccable pointe work, focus, movement in space, luminosity, line, intention of the port de bras and epaulement, sheer musicality and sublime femininity. She is a genius, period. And this was from FIFTY YEARS AGO!! Watch and learn, aspiring artists.
I am combing through YT to find every pieces with Gelsey Kirkland that I can find, she is fearless, never takes shortcuts and go through the end of every movement and sensation to give the essence of the choreography and music. I don't know how she puts this magic together but I love watching her ..... thanks for this video, we are blessed to be able to still see Gelsey dancing
The training she received at NY City Ballet was the basis of creating the unique dancer she became. But to me she really wasn't Kirkland until she got to ABT and finished putting herself together. IMO she was the greatest dancer ever, not just the greatest American dancer. Her Kitri in Don Quixote with Baryshnikov was the greatest dancing I have ever seen in my life. That's on top of possibly being the greatest Giselle in history as well. She is the template for the modern ballerina, but nobody ever managed to capture the ethereal lightness, technical prowess that didn't look like it was technique and her fierce commitment to character and music. She had no weaknesses. She was Callas and Sutherland. In my lifetime she might be the greatest artist of any genre.
I had the pleasure of having her as a teacher at a summer intensive once. She proceeded to dance a movement from Don Quixote that she was teaching us and I almost lost it. To be that close and see her dance was incredible. Still incredible.
This is priceless Kirkland, showing off her early work and how one doesn't have to raise one's legs to one's ear to maintain the audience's interest and to create suspense. It also shows off the absolute genius of Balanchine's ability to transform this complex, interwoven piece of music into dance.
Astonishing clarity, and in this ballet you can see it in excelsis, esp in the opening section where she and her second violin dance the same steps often, in canon, and Gelsey does it clean every time and the other never has the line accurate-- distortions of head, shoulders, elbows, wrists every time for Sumner[ if it is Sumner], clear positions for Gelsey. e.g., the demi-detournees at 0:40 ff, where Gelsey dances into the picture, stops on a dime, shows the arms framing the face in a perfect oval frame, the line extending through the fingers with no break or twist at the wrist.... what a gift that was to us. And thanks to whoever filmed, and whoever edited, and whoever posted this miraculous clip, the world of "us" who can see and be moved by this is constantly expanding. Thank you all, Stanley Williams and all Kirkland's teachers, and of course, herself, who gave us this immaculate performance.
I love Concerto Barocco and Gelsey is very good in this! Who is Gelsey's Partner in this? Her musicality is excellent here and I always say her dancing has such beautiful clarity.
Totally Beautiful god that company has the greatest legs in the business.true indeed. I've seen this performed quite a few times but I don't remember ever enjoying it this much.
Mantenimento ottimo delle pose figurali alcune delle quali inedite sia nel balletto d'ensemble che nel concerto collettivo del corollario danzante. Ottimo quello che con un mio neologismo mi piace chiamare convolo aereo ed elanista della ballerina ottimamente indotto e tenuto dal partner . MOLTO CAPACI TUTTI GLI AGENTI IN PROSCENIO. BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO
Please Miss Viale, can you tell us WHEN this performance occurred? And who are the other principal dancers? I'd guess Carol Sumner and John Clifford, but I'm probably wrong, and we all would like to know the who and when of this.
I thought of Martins too, although he doesn't look quite tall enough. I never saw Neary in person, but sounds like an educated guess. I'll take another look.
Great dancing, but whoever edited the film had no understanding of the music or its structure, or didn't care. You can't just chop up Bach into bits like that!
I love Gelsey Kirkland & she is an incredible dancer and her line is incredible but I just watched the Suzanne Farrell version which was so exquisite that this Gelsey Kirkland version pales by comparison for me right now.
@@toeknee1965 My favorite is the Tanaquil Le Clercq / Diana Adams / Jacques D'Ambroise one, from the Canadian broadcast. To be fair, this Gelsey Kirkland one seems like a rehearsal. It's choppy and not very emotional. I never cry during the Suzanne Farrell one, but it's very polished. In the Tanaquil Le Clercq one, when Jacques D'Ambroise carries her across the stage and her foot repeatedly touches the floor, I cry. Best, etc.
@@Infinity_Bent Tanaquil Le Clercq was exquisite and it is so rare to see videos with her, I think that I have seen all of them available on YT, she was a beautiful genius ballerina and I always have her in my heart.
@@Marta44339 - I reported every one of her depraved comments which was all of them. Hopefully, the powers that be will ban her. As of now, I do not see them. Ahh... but I just checked a different browser from the one I am logged into and they are still there. But, hopefully, not for long.
no this is before her drug problem period that she so courageously talks about in her book. a great read. she so funny and a little rebel at heart. adore her!
No one can match her phrasing, impeccable pointe work, focus, movement in space, luminosity, line, intention of the port de bras and epaulement, sheer musicality and sublime femininity. She is a genius, period. And this was from FIFTY YEARS AGO!! Watch and learn, aspiring artists.
I am combing through YT to find every pieces with Gelsey Kirkland that I can find, she is fearless, never takes shortcuts and go through the end of every movement and sensation to give the essence of the choreography and music. I don't know how she puts this magic together but I love watching her ..... thanks for this video, we are blessed to be able to still see Gelsey dancing
The training she received at NY City Ballet was the basis of creating the unique dancer she became. But to me she really wasn't Kirkland until she got to ABT and finished putting herself together. IMO she was the greatest dancer ever, not just the greatest American dancer. Her Kitri in Don Quixote with Baryshnikov was the greatest dancing I have ever seen in my life. That's on top of possibly being the greatest Giselle in history as well. She is the template for the modern ballerina, but nobody ever managed to capture the ethereal lightness, technical prowess that didn't look like it was technique and her fierce commitment to character and music. She had no weaknesses. She was Callas and Sutherland. In my lifetime she might be the greatest artist of any genre.
Balanchine is over rated ....his ballets are an exercise in monotony mostly. She had the good sense to move forward.
I agree. To me she’s the greatest ballet dancer of all time, period. And I think there is a LOT of evidence to support my case.
@@lmarti204 You're kidding if you think this.
@@TonieAnterwp no I’m not kidding. I’m not fond of Balanchine and his ballets. To me they need editing. Sorry …,but not really ….if you’re offended.
@@lmarti204 To the rest of us a moron like you needs editing....out of this comment section. Get lost!
I had the pleasure of having her as a teacher at a summer intensive once. She proceeded to dance a movement from Don Quixote that she was teaching us and I almost lost it. To be that close and see her dance was incredible. Still incredible.
This is priceless Kirkland, showing off her early work and how one doesn't have to raise one's legs to one's ear to maintain the audience's interest and to create suspense. It also shows off the absolute genius of Balanchine's ability to transform this complex, interwoven piece of music into dance.
wow...the rolling thru the feet is so expressive.every movement taken to its end. great. there's no quality like this anymore.
Gelsey Kirkland Looks like True BALLERINA in every Rôle that she dances. GLORIOUS! 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
This is just unfathomably sublime.
the greatest American ballerina
Gelsey was so sensitive and musical.
Absolutely, but in this video the sound and the picture are not synchronised....
She keeps her center while the others seem to collapse once they finish their step. She is airey while the others are heavier in their movements.
You're SO right. Her movement radiates from the center like light from the sun.
When Gelsey dances next to other ballerinas you see how extraordinarily clean and articulate she is.
So true! Like night and day
@@rubydube7280 but I love me some carol summers too. I think she is the other lead role
Astonishing clarity, and in this ballet you can see it in excelsis, esp in the opening section where she and her second violin dance the same steps often, in canon, and Gelsey does it clean every time and the other never has the line accurate-- distortions of head, shoulders, elbows, wrists every time for Sumner[ if it is Sumner], clear positions for Gelsey. e.g., the demi-detournees at 0:40 ff, where Gelsey dances into the picture, stops on a dime, shows the arms framing the face in a perfect oval frame, the line extending through the fingers with no break or twist at the wrist.... what a gift that was to us. And thanks to whoever filmed, and whoever edited, and whoever posted this miraculous clip, the world of "us" who can see and be moved by this is constantly expanding. Thank you all, Stanley Williams and all Kirkland's teachers, and of course, herself, who gave us this immaculate performance.
@@1psoas9 I don't know for certain, but in those days, Maggie Black was her primary teacher and coach.
I love Concerto Barocco and Gelsey is very good in this! Who is Gelsey's Partner in this? Her musicality is excellent here and I always say her dancing has such beautiful clarity.
amazing woman
That was amazing technique and so fluid and effort lezz..
Thank you for posting this.
What a rarity! Thank so much for posting it!
Totally Beautiful god that company has the greatest legs in the business.true indeed. I've seen this performed quite a few times but I don't remember ever enjoying it this much.
Wow! Another Gelsey treasure! How did you find this?????
Thank you for this💕💕💕💞
She was really good...
Mantenimento ottimo delle pose figurali alcune delle quali inedite sia nel balletto d'ensemble che nel concerto collettivo del corollario danzante. Ottimo quello che con un mio neologismo mi piace chiamare convolo aereo ed elanista della ballerina ottimamente indotto e tenuto dal partner . MOLTO CAPACI TUTTI GLI AGENTI IN PROSCENIO. BIGHIN GIULIO RENZO
Please Miss Viale, can you tell us WHEN this performance occurred? And who are the other principal dancers? I'd guess Carol Sumner and John Clifford, but I'm probably wrong, and we all would like to know the who and when of this.
indeed! lts good to know WHEN!
Woohoo! Gelsey in Concerto Barocco! Is it my birthday? Who is the other principal girl?
Carol Sumner.
@@jcliff26 For some reason I assumed it was Suki Schorer, but I am not 100% certain.
Wonderful! Thank you. What a rare treasure to see the early Kirkland. Who are the other daners and do you know what year this is?
My guess? Patricia Neary and Peter Martins.
I thought of Martins too, although he doesn't look quite tall enough. I never saw Neary in person, but sounds like an educated guess. I'll take another look.
Gelsey’s partner is Victor Castelli
Susan Avenue thank you
Grazie di nuovo!
Gelsey danced the ballet together with Sara Leland, but I don't know if it is her here
Too bad the music is off by one count.
Who's the second ballerina?
@@rufusred44 Carol Sumner with Gelsey.
Great dancing, but whoever edited the film had no understanding of the music or its structure, or didn't care. You can't just chop up Bach into bits like that!
It looks like part of the tape was melted and repaired
It's not a professional filming/recording.
Who is the larger dancer ?
I love Gelsey Kirkland & she is an incredible dancer and her line is incredible but I just watched the Suzanne Farrell version which was so exquisite that this Gelsey Kirkland version pales by comparison for me right now.
very different versions. love Suzanne too so dry and cool and edgy how she dances. loved it!
@@toeknee1965 My favorite is the Tanaquil Le Clercq / Diana Adams / Jacques D'Ambroise one, from the Canadian broadcast. To be fair, this Gelsey Kirkland one seems like a rehearsal. It's choppy and not very emotional. I never cry during the Suzanne Farrell one, but it's very polished. In the Tanaquil Le Clercq one, when Jacques D'Ambroise carries her across the stage and her foot repeatedly touches the floor, I cry. Best, etc.
@@Infinity_Bent Tanaquil Le Clercq was exquisite and it is so rare to see videos with her, I think that I have seen all of them available on YT, she was a beautiful genius ballerina and I always have her in my heart.
The amount of people coughing 🤪
Dance!
I think the other woman dancing with Kirkland might be Colleen Neary, before she left N.Y.C.B. I'm not 100% positive, though.
The smaller, thinner dancer is Kirkland, right?
If you have to ask you don't deserve an answer.
What is your problem? Your comment is very petty. We're here to enjoy watching dancers we love, not to snip and compete with each other.
Forgive me. But such ignorance is galling, one snaps, doesn't one?
Yes, the smaller dancer is Kirkland.
@@Marta44339 - I reported every one of her depraved comments which was all of them. Hopefully, the powers that be will ban her. As of now, I do not see them. Ahh... but I just checked a different browser from the one I am logged into and they are still there. But, hopefully, not for long.
she got dizzy from turning the pas de burre and got totally off the music lamo
totally off the music hahahahaha.... she must be on speed
Haters show up everywhere! Lol
no this is before her drug problem period that she so courageously talks about in her book. a great read. she so funny and a little rebel at heart. adore her!
The music was added after this was filmed. I believe the filming was a silent.
It's off the music