Idylle [1957]
Identifier
F.2011-05-0090
Date Of Production
1957
Abstract
"Idylle" is a ballet choreographed by George Skibine, with music by Francois Serrette and story by Alwin Camble. It was premiered in Paris at the Théâtre de l’Empire in 1954, starring Skibine, Marjorie Tallchief, and Vladimir Skouratoff, with costumes by Alwin Camble. This film version appears to record part of a performance of the ballet during the 1957-58 tour of Ruth Page's Chicago Opera Ballet, which contracted both Skibine and Tallchief.
Description
The film opens with a shot of a stage from several rows into an auditorium, from off-center. A man costumed as a black stallion and a woman costumed as a white filly dance together on the stage, which is bare save for a few very basic stable-like beams and a stool. The two dance acrobatically, the male horse apparently attempting to impress the female. The camera soon cuts to a more traditional pas de deux, including lifts and pirouettes. After awhile, a third horse enters--he is grey. The two men then compete for the female's attention, and the grey horse appears to have some degree of success in tearing her away from her initial lover. The camera begins to cut fairly frequently, showing impressive feats (numerous jumps or turns) by the grey horse and the white horse in particular. Eventually, the white horse seems to lose interest in the excitement of the grey horse and returns to her black stallion. A little over six minutes into the film, the stallion and the filly complete their finale together and the curtain closes; they then bow and the film cuts to an earlier rehearsal of the ballet in practice clothes and with low light. The rehearsal takes place on the same stage but from a closer vantage point. The film ends abruptly in the middle of the rehearsal.
Run Time
20 min 40 sec
Format
16mm
Extent
500 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Silent
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Form
Subject
Related Collections
Additional Credits
Skibine, George (is choreographer)
Participants And Performers
Tallchief, Marjorie (is performer)
Skibine, George (is performer)
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