Ballet With Edward Villella

Edward Villella, virile lead dancer of the New York City Ballet, dissolves the notion that male ballet dancers are “sissified” in a montage of dances demonstrating the muscular power and control necessary in this art. He shows how the body is transformed into a smoothly working organism adhering to the demands of musical timing while expressing ideas and feeling through beautiful gesture, form and line. With members of his troupe, he shows the importance of the placement of the foot in gathering power for a bravura performance, and of the glove-like ballet shoe in providing freedom of movement.