Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Robert Ossorio [sound recording]

Author

Ossorio, Robert.

Publication

1982.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Sears, David, 1948-1992.

Description

2 sound discs (ca. 104 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Disc 1 (ca. 65 min.). Robert Ossorio speaks about the Cecchetti technique and its teaching; Margaret Craske's teaching of the Cecchetti technique [at the Manhattan School of Dance]; differences between movements and placement a dancer should be taught in class and what may be required by a choreographer, such as George Balanchine; Ossorio's introduction to the Cecchetti technique at the school of Vincenzo Celli and Cia Fornaroli; how he first met and began studying with Craske; Craske, Antony Tudor and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Ballet School in New York City [gap; continues with discussion of Tudor and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Ballet School]; circumstances of Craske's departure from the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School in 1968; Ossorio's hiring of Craske as a teacher; his early career as a dancer, including dancing in Europe with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas; Peggy Van Praagh; illustrious dancers who studied with Craske, including Alicia Alonso; Craske and the American Ballet Theatre; Craske's teaching career in England; brief remarks regarding the relationship between [Agrippina] Vaganova and Enrico Cecchetti and their methods [ends abruptly].
• Disc 2 (ca. 39 min.). [Begins abruptly.] Ossorio speaks about Craske and the Ballets Russes [Diaghilev], including Cecchetti's introduction of Craske to Serge Diaghilev; Craske's remarks [as told by Ossorio] regarding Anna Pavlova; an anecdote about Craske and Paul Taylor; [Craske's student] Antonia Franceschi; Leonide Massine's marriage to Vera Savina; brief reminiscence regarding Stanislas Idzikowski; Craske's admiration for Ninette de Valois, especially her development of Margot Fonteyn and other dancers; anecdote regarding Fonteyn, Craske, and a jazz pianist [gap]; further attempts to identify former Craske students.

Donor/Sponsor

• Oral History Archive.
• National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.
• Gift of David Sears.

Subjects

• Audiotapes > Ossorio, R
• Craske, Margaret
• Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.) > Ballet School
• Manhattan School of Dance (New York, N.Y.)
• Ballet technique > Cecchetti
• Ossorio, Robert
• Ballet dancing
• Dance teachers
• Ballet > Study and teaching
• Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.) > Ballet

Note

• Interview with Robert Ossorio conducted by David Sears on Sept. 23, 1982. It appears that the interview is being conducted in a restaurant; the sound quality of the recording is fair and is marred by extraneous noise. The interview is part of Sears' research for his article Margaret Craske: In celebration of dance, published in Dance news, Nov. 1982, p. 1-2, 11.

Funding (note)

• Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-1581

OCLC

NYPY04-R3

Author

Ossorio, Robert. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Robert Ossorio [sound recording]

Imprint

1982.

Funding

Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Local Note

Arch. orig.: *MGZTC0 3-1581 nos. 1-2

Preservation master: *MGZTP 4-1581 nos. 1-2

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-1581 nos. 1-2

Local Subject

Ballet technique -- Cecchetti.

Audiotapes -- Ossorio, R.

Added Author

Sears, David, 1948-1992. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-1581