Melissa Hayden and Andre Eglevsky SLEEPING BEAUTY BEAUTY

Melissa Hayden and Andre Eglevsky in SLEEPING BEAUTY. Another TV broadcast in the days when network TV regularly showed ballet and Opera (when America was more educated) and we could see without paying the best in the performing arts. This shows the 1st Act solo by "Aurora" and the "Rose Adagio" where Milly is partnered by an all-star cast. Eglevsky dances a solo and we can see the improvement that has happened in male technique. In his day Eglevsky, and Igor Youskevitch, (for whom Mr. B choreographed the still fiendishly difficult "Theme and Variations") were the two preeminent "danseur noble" of their day. Then Erik Bruhn greatly upped the ante, and then Nureyev blew the roof off and showed what the male dancer could do, and forever changed the face of classical ballet. Milly has some nerves with the attitude balances (and needed to wear full rubber soles on her pointe shoes because in those days it was necessary in order to dance on TV studio stages....I had to do it too so I know) but her musicality, brio, energy, and just plain showmanship, is still a joy to see. She "lives" Aurora. The tempi is thrilling too.