Seven Minutes of Magic
According to shippermd, this video is “An EXTREMELY RARE, 1976 film-short of a romantic Pas de Deux Ballet to Pachelbel’s Canon In D Major.” Produced by David Hahn and choreographed by William Carter, this film highlights the talents of dancers Cynthia Gregory and Ivan Nagy.
About ‘In A Rehearsal Room’, Director David Hahn says the following:
“Every career has a few golden moments: when the stars align and all the personalities and talents mesh to bring out the best in everyone.
In A Rehearsal Room was such a time for me.
For a young filmmaker to just walk up to two of the world’s great dancers and say, “I have an idea for a film, do you want to do it?” And, they say, “Sure.”
Find a choreographer who took adjectives and turned them into steps and turns and lifts. A cameraman who didn’t put the camera on the floor (to make the dancers look like they are jumping higher) and understood my vision to film the dance like it was a conversation. On top of that, he got why I wanted the light to be “cold” instead of “warm” and actually lit on “dancer time,” not on “gaffer time.”
A dolly grip who was a poet of motion.
And an editor with whom I might as well have shared the same brain.
We all seemed to know it was a special time. I was sorely disappointed to find out later that this didn’t happen on all productions. How incredibly lucky I was to experience it.”
David Hahn at American Arts Trust
Video Credits:
- Dancers: Cynthia Gregory and Ivan Nagy.
- Producer: David Hahn
- Choreographed by William Carter
Music Credits:
- Song: Canon & Gigue in D Major
- Artist: Jean-François Paillard
- Album: The Wedding Album (Si Quiero)
- Licensed to YouTube byWMG (on behalf of Erato Disques); Sony ATV Publishing, SODRAC, Public Domain Compositions, and 14 Music Rights Societies
Image Credit:
- The Star, by Edgar Degas. (1878), [Public Domain] source: www.Edgar-Degas.net
Thanks for Visiting! 🙂
~Sunnyside
At Sunnyside - Where Truth and Beauty Meet 
Divine.
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I think so, too. There is a better quality video on Vimeo, but I preferred this one, strangely enough. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
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Darn, when I click the video I get “Video Unavailable.” Obviously Cindy Knoke could see it. I don’t know why this is happening, but I’m getting that same message A LOT when I try to watch videos cited in the NYTimes! And I’m a subscriber to the Times. Must delve into what’s going on here. Sorry to encumber your message area, but just letting you know.
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Oh dear. It is YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=ry5m91KUVyo
My WordPress has been glitchy all day (probably unrelated), but the videos are working fine for me right now. When I have video problems here my son – the expert – usually does something magical with the network. I hope the problem resolves for you.
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I’ll get to the bottom of it. I’m out of sync now, but I went straight to You Tube and watched the video you cited with no problem. I commented on the experience (briefly). I hope it shows up in your… what you see? 🙂
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Their movements are mesmerizing. I’d like to see a still that captures her profile.
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I would like to see a better picture of both faces. Just a brief glimpse at the end made me curious, too. Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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I saw the original, I believe, on New Year’s Eve, 1975. It brought tears to my eyes, unblemished by any alcohol. It was when (elitist, I confess) I was among the cognoscenti re the Canon. Married, and so committed, a year, Cynthia still stole my heart. Almost a half-century later, she has done it again. Thank you, Sunnyside. Truth and beauty? Are they not all we know on Earth and all we need to know?
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You are fortunate, indeed, to have such a memory. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts. 🙂
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god… amazing and delightful, what we are & what we can be. thanks!
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My sentiments exactly. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Thanks so much for posting this. I’ve seen the video before but not the explanation and will watch it again more carefully tomorrow more mindful of the two when it isn’t quite so frightfully late. I have been ruly blessed to see the young dancers right up close in the studio before they go professional and being within arm’s reach is absolutely magical. They might not be up there with the best yet, but that physical proximity and having watched them grow up, makes such a difference too.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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A special experience, indeed. Good night, Rowena. 🙂
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A Heads Up. After seeing this in 1975, I was mispronouncing Ivan Nagy’s last name (and first). Fortunately, nobody picked it up because nobody else had seen “In a Rehearsal Room”. Later, I saw another performance with Nagy and heard the announcer say his name correctly. People familiar with ballet know this, but to spare anyone the embarrassment to which I was gratefully absolved, his name is pronounced “nahj”. And, of course, Ivan is pronounced “eevahn”.
Cheers to all.
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Good to know! 🙂
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So, so beautiful..
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