Moiseyev Partisans
I recall a performance of the Moiseyev Dance Company’s “Partisans” as the single most exciting theatrical experience of my life. It occurred back when I was a little kid and the company was on its very first visit here.
A couple of years ago when I searched YouTube for a video of the dance, which is the venerable Moiseyev’s signature piece, it was—alas!—nowhere to be found. So imagine my thrill recently when I discovered it had subsequently appeared.
However, as I watched, I would have thrown something at the screen had it not been my own computer I’d be damaging. A mere shadow of what it should be, too much of the time it’s either shot from too far away or too close. The fabulous ending, where each couple in turn goes from casual trot to full speed ahead in an instant (you’ll see what I mean if you watch), is ruined by focusing on closeups of the wrong couples at the wrong time, missing the moment of transition for most of them.
And yet, and yet…enough remains of the magic for me to post this video for those of you who’ve never seen it. Yes, it’s very hokey and corny and gimmicky. Yes, it’s about the USSR’s WWII partisans, celebrating the glory of the brave Russians and all that jazz. But what a fabulous illusion it presented (especially as a child)—an illusion far more magical in the theater than in this video. It seemed impossible that dancers could glide across the stage and look as though they were on conveyor belts or roller skates, and yet be creating the effect with nothing but their bodies and their own two feet.
Oh, and as a child, it was altogether thrilling when one of the dancers was suddenly revealed—as her hat fell off, seemingly accidentally, at a well-timed moment, as in this video—to be a woman! I seem to recall in the olden days the dancer had long flowing red hair, which was far more effective. But no matter.
Take a look:
Outstanding. That must be very hard on the knees.
I recall that on one of the first dates with my wife I took her to the Dorothy Chandler in LA to see the Bolshoi–I believe it was “Spartacus.” I think that’s why she stayed. Russian dance is pretty amazing.
I have tremendous admiration for the ordinary Russian. They are incredibly resilient people as the history associated with this dance shows. I hope they have the chance someday to live a life where they are not caught between Scylla & Charybdis.
I hope we never have to find out if Americans have that sort of stoic patience.
riveting. but i take issue with the lighting director. too dark, mostly, and the rolling spotlights mask too much of the movement. still, a very pleasant few minutes spent. thanks!
One of the the Soviets understood was how strong the combination of image projection coupled with hiding the truth is.
We can clearly see what “progressivism” can do when the right people are in charge. That it is totally fiction is irrelevant, it gives those outside the iron curtain the vision they need to rationalize/idolize.
IMO without that understading the leftists would never have gotten the power they currently have. Further until (as happened in Soviet Union) the idea is shown to be totally a f
I’m posting from a tablet, my fat finger registered the submit button instead of moving the cursot.
Any way it has to be fully implemented and then violently fail over enough years before people mostly understand. Sadly it seems to have to be done personally – you are after all the right person and those that failed lacked your vision/intelligence. Further it takes time before people realize that utopia isn’t going to happen.
Decades of propoganda take many more decades to break when the people were as skilled as the Soviets were.
You are such a girl. All this dancy artsy fartsy stuff. Ah well, at least you don’t collect dolls or miniatures, have closets full of clothes you don’t wear, or use shopping as a love interest replacement. I’m so out of here, just in case.