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A CHOREOGRAPHER COMMENTS
Juilliard Ensemble 1960; Photo courtesy Judith Chazin-Bennahum
Synopsis:
Comment I: Arabesque-A position in which the body is supported one leg, while the other is extended in back with
the arms harmoniously disposed. 587 arabesques
Comment II: Jete-A spring from one foot to the other. 224 jetes
Comment III: Pas de Bourrée-Three transfers of weight from one foot to the other.
Comment IV: Tour-a turn. 60 turns
Comment V: Quatrieme en l'air-Leg extended in front.
Comment VI: Bourrée Courue-Small running steps.
Comment VII: Petite Batterie-Small jumping steps in which the legs beat together. 597 beats
Comment VIII: Posé-A step onto a straight leg. 65 poses
Comment IX: Tour-A turn. 184 turns
Comment X: Pas de chat-Literally, step of a cat. 1 Pas de chat
Selma Jeanne Cohen testified:
Of the later Juilliard pieces, A Choreographer Comments probably had some of the wittiest passages
Tudor has devised, notably the snidely priggish exposition of the pas de bourrée and the amusing spoof on
Swan Lake labeled “1 pas de chat.” Much of the rest was technically ingenious, though some of the audience—after
seeing 587 arabesques followed by 597 beats—felt willing to accept Tudor’s assertion that ballet had variety without
watching the evidence slowly unroll.
Choreographer Comments begins with three women in short white skirts, joined by three more women and two men who
support them in arabesque balances and lifts. Imaginative combinations of arabesques and lyrical adagio movements
seamlessly unfold with a couple embracing at the end.
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| Choreography |
| Antony Tudor |
| Music / Composer |
| Franz Schubert; Octet in F Major. Opus 166 |
| First Performance |
New York
The Juilliard School
April 8, 1960
Juilliard Dance Ensemble |
| First Performance Cast |
| Pina Bausch, Chieko Kikuchi, Jennifer Masley, Michael Imber, Jerry King, Virginia Klein, Myron
Howard Nadel, Carol Lipman, Koert Stuyf, Benjamin Heller, Mabel Robinson, William Louther, Carol Egan, Barbara
Hale |
| Professional Premiere |
| Syracuse, NY, Feb 20, 1976 Syracuse Ballet Theatre |
| Average Length |
| A Juilliard film – 23 minutes |
| Number of Dancers |
| 5 Women, 3 Men |
| Notated |
| Excerpts notated 1963-1964 by students Sheila Zatroch and Margaret Cicierska (Labanotation) |
| Costumes / Scenery |
| NA |
| Lighting |
| Thomas DI’Gaetani |
| Licensing Information |
| Contact Us |
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