i was most impressed by this post by tom parsons, the internet veteran who maintains the FAQ for alt.arts.ballet newsgroup - i trust he won't mind his words of wisdom being spread around......<P><BR>Lisa asked,<BR>><BR>> I am doing some research into the history of ballet and would like a few opinions from you all on who you think is, or was, the greatest ever ballet dancer.<P>I'm afraid this is an impossible question to answer, because "ever" spans such a long period of time. <P>Ballet is at least 3 centuries old, after all.<P>We have very few pictures & of course no motion pictures, from the earlier days, & even in this century there are no longer many people who remember how Nijinsky looked.<P>Moreover, the styles & customs of ballet evolved over the centuries, so one would probably have to consider "greatest" in the<BR>context of ballet standards (such as extension & turnout) as they were in any particular candidate's time.<P>So who's to say? Do we know for sure that Baryshnikov is greater than one of the Vigano clan? Or that Fonteyn was greater than Grisi? Or that Nureyev was greater than Dupre? Or that Farrell was greater than Taglioni?<P>These are reasonable questions to ask when it comes to greatness, but the answers are inherently unknowable, & thus I fear your<BR>question is inherently unanswerable.<P>Tom Parsons<P>--<BR>--<BR>twp@panix.com | "If I told you, you would not know; you simply would have been told." <A HREF="http://www.panix.com/~twp" TARGET=_blank>http://www.panix.com/~twp</A> | --Robert A. Heinlein<P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by grace (edited August 17, 2000).]

That is a very good answer by Tom. I've always felt the same way about "best ever" and the like. And as Lucy says to me all the time, dancers keep getting better.

Well - dancers keep CHANGING.

As dance does.<P>Dance wouldn't change without dancers changing. It doesn't really exist without us, you know.

It's very possible that the best <I>choreographer</I> working today might be someone laboring in relative obscurity in some small college town. Just because people haven't gone to New York (or insert the name of the major dance town in any other country here) doesn't mean they're not talented.<P>------------------<BR>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<BR>Jeffrey E. Salzberg, Lighting Designer<BR>Online portfolio, now including "This Day in Arts History":<BR><A HREF="http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg</A> <P><BR>

Agreed, Jeffrey

Priscilla, I agree. . .and I'd add that audience's tastes are continually changing also. What once seemed desirable (in movement style and body type, particularly) might now seem unattractive, and those qualities which we now admire would not have been appreciated in the past.<P>------------------<BR>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<BR>Jeffrey E. Salzberg, Lighting Designer<BR>Online portfolio, now including "This Day in Arts History":<BR><A HREF="http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg</A> <P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by salzberg (edited August 19, 2000).]

I like the part about the world's 'best' choreographer being at some remote college or something.

Priscilla, do you have illusions of grandeur? <P>Hmm... but then again, I've not seen your work... so, I had better refrain until I do.<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited August 19, 2000).]

Egads - not ME! Just saying those in out of the way, ignored places have my vote.<P>

Wait, I don't get it. Are you saying there is such a thing as an unassuming, non-egotistical choreographer?

absolutely YES azlan. i have found many choreographers to be very self-doubting individuals.......<P>and someone like david bintley, who is now at the top of his field, however you define that, is unassuming, although he has enough ego to do his job. <P>i think choreographers, as a wild generalistion, have very frail egos......<P>of course, there are always exceptions, and no, azlan, i'm not going to name them.....

And, - if one could come up with a name of a dancer who was truly the GREATEST EVER - what does that mean? It's only the opnion on one person .............Basheva