Afternoon of a Faun (Robbins)
Encyclopedia
Afternoon of a Faun is a ballet made by Jerome Robbins
, subsequently ballet master
of New York City Ballet
, to Debussy's
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
. The premiere took place May 14, 1953 at City Center of Music and Drama
, New York, with scenery and lighting by Jean Rosenthal
and costumes by Irene Sharaff
.
Robbin's setting differs from the original version by Vaslav Nijinsky by placing the danseur in a ballet studio (a three wall set) lounging on the floor. A ballerina enters and they dance facing the audience as though looking into the mirrored wall of the studio. He kisses his partner on the cheek, and she bourrées out of the studio and off-stage. He returns to his initial supine position.
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Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
, subsequently ballet master
Ballet Master
Ballet Master is the term used for an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company...
of New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
, to Debussy's
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune , commonly known by its English title Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is a symphonic poem for orchestra by Claude Debussy, approximately 10 minutes in duration...
. The premiere took place May 14, 1953 at City Center of Music and Drama
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
, New York, with scenery and lighting by Jean Rosenthal
Jean Rosenthal
Jean Rosenthal is considered a pioneer in the field of theatrical lighting design. She was born in New York City to Romanian-Jewish immigrants....
and costumes by Irene Sharaff
Irene Sharaff
Irene Sharaff was an American costume designer for stage and screen. Her work earned her five Academy Awards and a Tony Award.- Background :...
.
Robbin's setting differs from the original version by Vaslav Nijinsky by placing the danseur in a ballet studio (a three wall set) lounging on the floor. A ballerina enters and they dance facing the audience as though looking into the mirrored wall of the studio. He kisses his partner on the cheek, and she bourrées out of the studio and off-stage. He returns to his initial supine position.
original
- Tanaquil Le Clercq
- Francisco Moncion
1982
- Darci KistlerDarci KistlerDarci Kistler is a noted American ballerina. She is often said to be the last muse for legendary choreographer George Balanchine.-Biography:...
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- Afshin Mofid
1992
- Helene Alexopoulos
- Alexandre Proia
2007
- Janie Taylor
- Craig Hall
2008 Spring – Jerome Robbins celebration
- Janie Taylor
- Damian WoetzelDamian WoetzelDamian Woetzel, former ballet star, is a producer and director of dance and music performances. Among his recent projects was directing the first performance of the White House Dance Series in September 2010, which took place in the East Room of the White House and was hosted by First Lady Michelle...
2005 American Ballet Theatre
- Stella Abrera
- David Hallberg
Reviews
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E1EFF3F5B157A93C7A8178ED85F478585F9NY Times, John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, May 15, 1953] - http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E4D71438F932A25756C0A964948260NY Times, Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, May 11, 1982]
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFD7123CF930A15751C0A964958260NY review, Jennifer DunningJennifer DunningJennifer Dunning is a writer and critic for the New York Times on the subjects of dance and ballet. She is the author of the 1985 But First a School: The First Fifty Years of the School of American Ballet, the 1996 Alvin Ailey, a Life in Dance and the 1997 Great Performances: A...
, February 23, 1992] - http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/arts/dance/25ball.htmlNY Times, Roslyn SulcasRoslyn SulcasRoslyn Sulcas is a dance critic for the New York Times. She grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and studied English literature in college, receiving a post-graduate degree from York University in England. While finishing her thesis she lived in Paris, where she began writing for the British Dance...
, October 25, 2005] - NY Times, Gia Kourlas, February 19, 2007