Research Catalog

Title

Hollywood Ice Revue [and] [Christmas at the Ballet Arts studio] [videorecording].

Publication

[1952?-1958?]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Wirtz, Arthur M.
• McLaughlin, Andra.
• Ballet Arts (New York, N.Y.)

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

[Christmas at the Ballet Arts studio]

Subjects

• Video
• Figure skating
• Dance

Genre/Form

• Dance.
• Video.

Note

• Title of second segment supplied by cataloger.

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

• Hollywood Ice Revue (8 min.) / two short films recorded in performance at Madison Square Garden, New York City, possibly in 1952, 1955, and/or 1956. Excerpts, some very brief, of various numbers from an ice skating show produced by Arthur M. Wirtz. Skaters include Andra McLaughlin, who appears in three solos in these films: wearing a sequined leotard; dressed in a hula skirt and playing 'uli'uli, a Hawaiian percussion instrument; and costumed as a green bird. Other numbers feature individuals and groups in various costumes, ballroom dancers, acrobats, and dogs. Yeichi Nimura, who frequently coached performers in "Oriental" movement, may have coached an ensemble of eight women in pink kimono with fans. Another possible link is Andra McLaughlin, whose name was written by Nimura on the film container; she may have studied dance with him.
• Christmas at the Ballet Arts studio (3 min.) / recorded at the Ballet Arts Studio, 61 Carnegie Hall, New York City, in 1957. Child students of the studio sit in front of a white Christmas tree; Yeichi Nimura's cat also enters the picture. A group of older dancers appears, among them Patricia Heyes, Barbara Monte, Michele Karaty, and Victor Reilly; two couples demonstrate lifts.
• Unidentified ice show (1:30 min.) / recorded in performance. This footage may depict either the Hollywood Ice Revue (see above) or the Ice Capades show at Madison Square Garden, New York City, in 1956 or 1958.

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5701

OCLC

706826979

Title

Hollywood Ice Revue [and] [Christmas at the Ballet Arts studio] [videorecording].

Imprint

[1952?-1958?]

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

Series

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

System Details

DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

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

Wirtz, Arthur M. Producer

McLaughlin, Andra. Performer

Ballet Arts (New York, N.Y.)

Added Title

[Christmas at the Ballet Arts studio]

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5701