Research Catalog

Title

[Choreographic works by Yeichi Nimura] [videorecording].

Publication

1954.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979
• Crane, Dean
• Shimoda, Yuki

Description

1 videodisc (NTSC) (22 min.) : si., col. and b&w; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

An accompanying note to this film states that these choreographic works by Yeichi Nimura were inspired by music [i.e., specific musical pieces].

Donor/Sponsor

Bequest of the Estate of Lisan Kay Nimura.

Series Statement

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

Genre/Form

• Dance.
• Video.

Note

• Title supplied by cataloger.

Event (note)

• Recorded at the Ballet Arts studio, 61 Carnegie Hall, New York City, in 1954.

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

• Title not identified; work inspired by Ernest Bloch's Nigun (8 min., col.) / danced by Dean Crane, Lynn Marcus, Carol [last name not given], Lynn Broadbent. Nimura was inspired by violinist Isaac Stern's performance of this music, which is part of Bloch's Baal Shem: three pictures of Chassidic life. The piece is interrupted after about 5 min. and resumes, out of focus, from a point about 3:30 min. from the beginning, thus repeating some material.
• Candid footage of Yeichi Nimura with his cat (30 sec., col.).
• Spear play [excerpts] (5 min., b&w) / danced by Yuki Shimoda and Dean Crane, with Yeichi Nimura as the Magician. Accompanying notes state that Nimura was inspired by Aaron Avshalomov's "Chinese ballet," but does not specify a title. The New York Times of Nov. 8, 1942 mentions "an original Chinese ballet" by Nimura to Avshalomov's music, to be performed by a new ballet company formed by Ballet Arts, but again no title is given. Avshalomov (1894-1965) was a Russian-born composer who lived and worked in China for many years, and often adapted Chinese themes into western musical forms.
• Title not identified; work inspired by Ernest Bloch's Nigun (7 min., b&w) / danced by the same cast as above. The piece is interrupted after about 5 min., and repeats some material when it resumes.
• Candid footage (1 min., b&w) of the filming location.

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5722

OCLC

706826317

Title

[Choreographic works by Yeichi Nimura] [videorecording].

Imprint

1954.

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

Series

Yeichi and Lisan Kay Nimura Collection

System Details

DVD, transferred from 16mm film.

Event

Recorded at the Ballet Arts studio, 61 Carnegie Hall, New York City, in 1954.

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

Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979, choreographer.

Nimura, Yeichi, 1897-1979, dancer.

Crane, Dean, dancer.

Shimoda, Yuki, dancer.

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-5722