Research Catalog

Title

[Lion dance in Chinatown] [and] [Vladimir Dokoudovsky teaching ballet] [and] [Ballet Arts studio] [videorecording].

Publication

1959.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Dokoudovsky, Vladimir.
• Kay, Lisan.
• Lee, Virginia, 1904?-1979.
• Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979.
• Ballet Arts (New York, N.Y.)
• Takarazuka Kagekidan.

Description

1 videodisc (NTSC) (12 min.) : si., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Donor/Sponsor

Bequest of the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

Series Statement

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

Alternative Title

• [Vladimir Dokoudovsky teaching ballet]
• [Ballet Arts studio]

Genre/Form

• Dance.
• Video.

Note

• Titles supplied by cataloger.

Event (note)

• Recorded in New York City in 1959.

Funding (note)

• Processing and cataloging made possible by the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

System Details (note)

• DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

Source (note)

• Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura;

Biography (note)

• Yeichi Nimura, 1897-1979, was born in Suwa, Japan, and came to the United States in 1918. He studied dance at the Denishawn school, and also trained in ballet, ballroom, and Spanish dancing. He first danced onstage in 1927 in a revue choreographed by his compatriot Michio Ito, and presented his first recital in 1930. He performed throughout the 1930s in works created by himself and others on the concert stage, in musical theater, and on American and foreign tours with his wife Lisan Kay. Retiring from the stage while still in his prime, he focused on teaching, coaching, and choreographing. He choreographed the musical Lute song both on Broadway in 1946 and at City Center in 1959. He was a founder of the Ballet Arts school at "61" Carnegie Hall, and created works for his students. In recognition of his contributions to international cultural understanding, the Japanese government awarded him an Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1969. In 1973 he established the Nimura Dance Award in Japan in order to assist young dancers and recognize achievement.

Contents

• Lion dance in Chinatown (4 min.) / street performance recorded during the Chinese New Year celebration, February 1959. Dancers costumed as lions, a symbol of good fortune, are accompanied by flags, banners, and masked figures. A lion dance occurs in Act III, scene 4 of Lute song, a Broadway musical whose original production was choreographed by Yeichi Nimura in 1945-46. He was also engaged to choreograph its revival, which opened at New York's City Center in March 1959. This film may have been shot as field research.
• Vladimir Dokoudovsky teaching ballet (4 min.) / recorded at the Ballet Arts studio, 61 Carnegie Hall, on September 15, 1959. The class is observed by members of Japan's Takarazuka Dance Theatre, dressed in kimono. The company, famous for its all-female revues, was then making its U.S. debut.
• Ballet Arts studio (4 min.) / recorded in December 1959. Scenes from the ballet classes of Vladimir Dokoudovsky and Lisan Kay are interspersed with views of the studio's entrance and reception room, which is decorated for Christmas. Director Virginia Lee is glimpsed at the reception desk; Christine Tietjen and her husband are seen at the door; choreographer/teacher Yeichi Nimura plays with his cat in a neighboring room, 60 Carnegie Hall.

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5707

OCLC

706821680

Title

[Lion dance in Chinatown] [and] [Vladimir Dokoudovsky teaching ballet] [and] [Ballet Arts studio] [videorecording].

Imprint

1959.

Country of Producing Entity

United States.

Series

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

System Details

DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

Event

Recorded in New York City in 1959.

Funding

Processing and cataloging made possible by the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

Biography

Yeichi Nimura, 1897-1979, was born in Suwa, Japan, and came to the United States in 1918. He studied dance at the Denishawn school, and also trained in ballet, ballroom, and Spanish dancing. He first danced onstage in 1927 in a revue choreographed by his compatriot Michio Ito, and presented his first recital in 1930. He performed throughout the 1930s in works created by himself and others on the concert stage, in musical theater, and on American and foreign tours with his wife Lisan Kay. Retiring from the stage while still in his prime, he focused on teaching, coaching, and choreographing. He choreographed the musical Lute song both on Broadway in 1946 and at City Center in 1959. He was a founder of the Ballet Arts school at "61" Carnegie Hall, and created works for his students. In recognition of his contributions to international cultural understanding, the Japanese government awarded him an Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1969. In 1973 he established the Nimura Dance Award in Japan in order to assist young dancers and recognize achievement.

Source

Gift; Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura; Sept. 2007. NN-PD

Added Author

Dokoudovsky, Vladimir. Teacher

Kay, Lisan. Teacher

Lee, Virginia, 1904?-1979. Associated name

Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979. Associated name

Ballet Arts (New York, N.Y.)

Takarazuka Kagekidan.

Added Title

[Vladimir Dokoudovsky teaching ballet]

[Ballet Arts studio]

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5707