Research Catalog

Interview with Peter Deign

Title
Interview with Peter Deign [electronic resource] / interviewed by Camille Hardy ; [presented by] The George Balanchine Foundation.
Publication
c2002.

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
  • Balanchine, George
  • Deign, Peter.
  • Hardy, Camille.
  • George Balanchine Foundation.
  • George Balanchine Foundation. dnr
Description
3 streaming video files (94 min.) : digital, stereo.
Alternative Title
Popular Balanchine collection.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Dance.
  • Video.
  • Interviews.
  • Nonfiction films.
Note
  • This interview was created for the Popular Balanchine Collection.
  • This interview relates to the Popular Balancine dossiers (Box 35. Courtin' Time) (1951) [Dance Division call number: *MGZMD 146, boxes 35-36, Courtin' time], compiled by Camille Hardy. Binder 1. Inventory, overview materials by Camille Hardy and Jack Lawrence, background materials (prints and photocopies of scene designs by Ralph Alswang, photocopies and typescripts from published and unpublished sources), programs (originals and photocopies), notices and reviews, photocopied images from the press, photographs (rehearsal and performance prints, negatives from photo montage in Tab, September 1938). Binder 2. Transcripts of interviews with Hubert Bland, Saul Bolasni, Peter Deign, Harvey Brown Drake (Mrs. Alfred Drake), Michael Ellis, Audrey Keane, Jack Lawrence, Patricia Poole, Herman Raucher, Theodor Uppman, and Billie Worth. Also includes original souvenir program, oversize print of Carmen Mathews in "Golden Moment," photocopy of stage manager's script, music (photocopies and/or originals of partial conductor's score and piano music), and original music folder entitled "Theresa" with manuscript scores for "Golden Moment" and "Masculinity."
Access (note)
  • Patrons can access streaming video files online only onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts.
Event (note)
  • Videotaped during an interview at the Balanchine Foundation, New York, N.Y., on Aug. 1, 2002.
Source (note)
  • George Balanchine Foundation.
Contents
  • Disc 1 (40 min.). Peter Deign discusses performing in the Broadway musical Courtin' time; his training as a dancer in the South Bronx, changing his name from Edward Peter Nielsen to Peter Deign when he joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; about the Dance Magazine photograph from Jan. 1951 with Deign and Audrey Keane; performing with Audrey Keane; first working with Balanchine for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in Serenade; a memory of Balanchine; getting the job for Courtin' time because he already danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; remembering the audition process; Balanchine creating the opening number in Boston and playing the drums when they presented this dance to the producers; remembering the movement for the opening number; Camile Hardy reading aloud the list of dancers in the cast; having no memory of the women's dance for A man never marries a wife; Hardy reading the lyrics for the Wishbone song and waltz which was described as a choreographed Pin the tail on the donkey; Balanchine being intrigued with homespun quality of this show since it was the first time he had worked with the Americana theme; the movement and costumes for Chose your partner, the section Deign danced with Patricia Poole, along with several corrections he personally remembers getting from Balanchine; working with Balanchine as he created folk dances and a comparison to Agnes de Mille; the difference in Balanchine when creating ballets opposed to folk dances; Balanchine developing music with Dorothea Freitag (pianist); and Balanchine giving classes.
  • Disc 2 (40 min.). Deign describing a typical day during rehearsals and class given by Balanchine; about Johnny and the puckwudgies, with the puckwudgies performing on pointe, Deign being a swing and having to partner different dancers every night, and a description of the costumes worn; Camille Hardy reading the lyrics to Johnny ride the sky; about the Act II opening ballet number and what Deign thought of it; Balanchine using tap dance elements in the Sensible thing to do number; a story about the potential old maids; discussion of the Maine will remember the Maine production number with a story about dividing the men in half; Deign's favorite things about working with Balanchine; personal story about asking Balanchine to attend a drag show in Burlesque house in Boston; Balanchine working on Courtin' time at the same time he was having the first New York City Ballet (NYCB) Chicago tour and first NYCB summer season; Balanchine being in Boston to continue choreographing but not going to Philadelphia; Lloyd Nolan leaving show and the union giving them extra tryout; how Deign felt about the dancers; the difference between dancing on Broadway and dancing in a ballet company; auditioning for Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo while still performing four shows a day at the Roxy; performing with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the roles he danced; his experience dancing in Song of Norway; listing the numbers in which he danced; remembering the big ballet scene with some of the staging and movements.
  • Disc 3 (ca. 14 min.). Continuing with the ballet scene from Song of Norway with Deign describing his placement downstage to perform jetés; the rehearsal process; describing the dance numbers and scenes; the most important thing Deign learned from Balanchine and watching Balanchine perform in the 1929 film, The dark red roses; final thoughts about Courtin' time with comments about what he thought of as the best song, Golden moment; and concludes with Deign reciting a poem.
Call Number
*MGZIDVD 5-7310
OCLC
809198783
Title
Interview with Peter Deign [electronic resource] / interviewed by Camille Hardy ; [presented by] The George Balanchine Foundation.
Imprint
c2002.
Country of Producing Entity
U.S.
Original Version
Original format: 3 DV-CAM cassettes.
Restricted Access
Patrons can access streaming video files online only onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts.
Performer
Interviewee, Peter Deign ; interviewer, Camille Hardy.
Event
Videotaped during an interview at the Balanchine Foundation, New York, N.Y., on Aug. 1, 2002.
Source
Gift; George Balanchine Foundation. NN-PD
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Balanchine, George, choreographer.
Deign, Peter. Interviewee
Hardy, Camille. Interviewer
George Balanchine Foundation.
George Balanchine Foundation. Donor
Added Title
Popular Balanchine collection.
Research Call Number
*MGZIDVD 5-7310
View in Legacy Catalog