Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Patricia Wilde. February 22 and March 1, 1973, 1973.

Author

Wilde, Patricia, 1928-

Publication

1973

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Gruen, John

Description

2 sound discs (approximately one hour and 36 minutes): digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Disc 1, February 22, 1973 (approximately 48 minutes). John Gruen speaks with Patricia Wilde about her children and her husband George Bardyguine; her family and early ballet training in Ottawa, Canada including her teacher Gwendolyn Osborne; her audition for the School of American Ballet with [Anatole] Oboukhoff; studying with Dorothy Littlefield; her time at the Marquis de Cuevas's Ballet International including some of her roles; touring with Balanchine and a group of dancers including Nicky [Nicholas] Magallanes, in Mexico; her four years [1945-1949] with the Ballet russe [de Monte Carlo] including a performance anecdote; her memory of [Leonide] Massine in the studio; some of her roles; Alexandra Danilova including her discipline; very briefly, her partners including Magallanes, Freddy [Frederic Franklin], and Leon [Danielian]; her reasons for leaving the Ballet russe including her dissatisfaction with Sergei Denham's management; studying in Paris; dancing with Ballet Society [precursor of New York City Ballet] in London including a performance anecdote; her subsequent 15 years with the company in New York [ends abruptly].
• Disc 2, February 22, 1973 and March 1, 1973 (approximately 48 minutes). John Gruen and Patricia Wilde continue to speak about her time at New York City Ballet; Tanny [Tanaquil Le Clercq] and the tragedy of her having contracted polio; Wilde's marriage including an anecdote about Balanchine's reaction; leaving New York City Ballet to become the director of the new Harkness Ballet school; leaving Harkness to teach at American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet school [this section of the interview, which is being recorded on February 22, 1973 ends at approximately 16:50; the interview resumes on March 1, 1973 at approximately 16:53 ]. Wilde continues to speak about her teaching including in Geneva and in Stockholm; leaving Geneva to return to American Ballet Theatre as ballet mistress and to teach at the affiliated school; the students; the different styles she teaches; changes since her time in the style of dancing and the atmosphere at New York City Ballet; more on her teaching including the special problems that can arise when teaching professional dancers; some of her students including Lar Lubovitch, whom she taught at Harkness; working with guest artists at American Ballet Theatre including Natalia Markova; Erik Bruhn including as a partner; the sacrifices and rewards of a dancer's life; more on her teaching; the improved working conditions for the American Ballet Theatre dancers.

Donor/Sponsor

Gift of John Gruen, April 1974

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
• American Ballet Theatre > School
• Balanchine, George
• Bruhn, Erik, 1928-1986
• Danilova, Alexandra, 1907-1997
• Dance teachers
• New York City Ballet
• Massine, Leonide, 1896-1979
• Audiotapes > Wilde, P
• Le Clercq, Tanaquil
• Wilde, Patricia, 1928-

Note

• Interview with Patricia Wilde conducted by John Gruen on February 22, 1973 and March 1, 1973 at the offices of American Ballet Theatre in New York City. This interview was used as a basis for a chapter in John Gruen's book, The private world of ballet (New York, Viking Press).
• For transcript, see: *MGZMT 3-205.
• Sound quality is good. There is some extraneous noise and a few short gaps.

Funding (note)

• The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-205

OCLC

77862269

Author

Wilde, Patricia, 1928- interviewee.

Title

Interview with Patricia Wilde. February 22 and March 1, 1973, 1973.

Production

1973

Type of Content

spoken word

Type of Medium

audio

Type of Carrier

audio disc

Event

Recorded by John Gruen 1973, February 22 and March 1 New York (New York)

Funding

The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.

Original Version

Original format: one sound cassette (approximately one hour and 36 minutes); 1 7/8 ips. originally recorded on February 22, 1973 and March 1, 1973; transferred to wav file and compact disc formats in 2013.

Local Note

Former classmark: *MGZTC 3-205

Added Author

Gruen, John, interviewer.

Gruen, John, donor

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-205