11/29/25 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: The Nutcracker Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park (1968)

Rudolf Nureyev‘s 1968 staging of the Nutcracker for the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden fundamentally altered the perception of The Nutcracker. Nureyev discarded the simplistic notion of a pure children’s fantasy, instead turning the entire dream sequence into a complex psycho-sexual exploration of Clara’s burgeoning maturity and her subconscious desire for her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Continue reading

8/1/25 O&A NYC SHAL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Maya Plisetskaya Dances Bolero, The Dying Swan And More

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Maya Plisetskaya, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Bolshoi Ballet, danced Maurice Bejart’s Bolero set to the famous Ravel score in 1975. Plisetskaya created a stunning theatrical experience. What makes the piece so compelling is that although Plisetskaya may be accompanied by dozens of other dancers mirroring her movement, the first and only focus is on the prima ballerina herself.  Continue reading

8/1/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Maya Plisetskaya Dances Bolero, The Dying Swan And More

Shall We Dancemed_1408733786_image

Maya Plisetskaya, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Bolshoi Ballet, danced Maurice Bejart’s Bolero set to the famous Ravel score in 1975. Plisetskaya created a stunning theatrical experience. What makes the piece so compelling is that although Plisetskaya may be accompanied by dozens of other dancers mirroring her movement, the first and only focus is on the prima ballerina herself.  Continue reading

1/3/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Nureyev- Ballet’s Most Incredible Story

Shall We Dance FridayNureyev- Ballet’s Most Incredible Story is a striking and moving documentary from BAFTA nominated directors Jacqui and David Morris traces the extraordinary life of Rudolf Nureyev. From his birth in the 5th class carriage of a trans-Siberian train, to his dramatic leap to freedom in the West at the height of the Cold War, and unprecedented adulation as the most famous dancer in the world. Continue reading

11/29/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker (1968)

Shall We Dance

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This historic performance from 1968 captures choreographer/performer Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Filmed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the ballet features artists of the Royal Ballet including Wayne Sleep, Jillian Gibbs and Merle Park as Clara. Continue reading

12/10/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker (1968)

Shall We Dance

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This historic performance from 1968 captures choreographer/performer Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Filmed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the ballet features artists of the Royal Ballet including Wayne Sleep, Jillian Gibbs and Merle Park as Clara. Continue reading

1/12/19 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Nureyev Unzipped – A Brief Survey Of The Life And Career Of The Great Russian Dancer

Nureyev Unzipped is a short documentary that dates from 1998 and narrated by Terence Stamp. The programme includes interviews with friends and colleagues as well as film clips of Nureyev in action. Uploaded with all due acknowledgements to the programme makers of 20 years ago. Continue reading

12/10/18 O&A NYC 15 DAYS OF NUTCRACKER: Arabian Dance From The Nutcracker- Choreographer Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev choreographed this wonderfully holiday narrative for The Royal Ballet Company at Covent Garden in 1968. Continue reading

11/29/18 O&A NYC 26 DAYS OF NUTCRACKER: Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park (1963)

Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park dances Grande pas de deux from The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker (1963). Continue reading

6/3/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Tango Scene-Rudolf Nureyev & Anthony Dowell- Valentino (1977)

Valentino-PosterRudolph Nureyev is Valentino. The world’s greatest lover dances the tango with the world’s greatest male dancer Vaslav Nijinsky (Anthony Dowell).

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