Rudolf Nureyev

In this episode of PBS' Great Performances, the history and legacy of puppeteer Jim Henson is explored, from his six-second commercial beginnings to a five-season run on ABC of The Muppet Show to several theatrically released films, including five Muppet movies, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth.

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from its origins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, up to the break dance and music videos from the 80s.

From this "inexorable disease", Hervé Guibert did not recover. The miracle he had so much hoped for did not happen. But, before his death in 1991, three years after learning of his HIV-positive status, he engraved in his literary and photographic work "the places of [his] suffering", "the stations of [his] way of the cross". With his thin body and sunken cheeks, the handsome man with curly hair that he was, the one whose clear gaze radiated from the seaside photos, fought a fierce battle against AIDS. A fight of every moment against the decay of the body, observed and commented with a methodical care in his autobiographical novels, in particular "To the Friend Who Did Not Save My Life" (1990) and "The Compassionate Protocol" (1991), and of which he testified on television on the set of "Apostrophes"...

Sandra Hüller portrays Ingeborg Bachmann on an imaginary day in Rome. Regina Schilling’s hybrid film weaves together reenactments, archival footage, and Bachmann’s own writings into a portrait that offers a refreshing new perspective on the author and positions her writings as a reference point in current debates on gender relations and power.

Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine succeeded in becoming an internationally recognized icon, recording artist, and character actor of stage and screen. Glenn went from the often-mocked, schoolyard fat kid to underdog royalty, standing up for millions of gay men and women, drag queens and punk rockers, and countless other socially ostracized misfits and freaks. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture.

BYE (AJÖ), a new dance film, is choreographed and directed by acclaimed Swedish choreographer Mats Ek. " About a woman (Sylvie Guillem) who takes leave of a certain stage in her life. It is a conversation that she has with herself that leads to new experiences.

This film follows Sylvie Guillem in its frantic race around the globe and reveals the daily life of this extraordinary dancer.

Biography of Dame Margot Fonteyn.

Documentary about the dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

Documentary about the Royal Ballet. Includes selections from "Les Sylphides" and "The Sleeping Beauty" with Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn

A documentary about dancer Heinz Bosl who died in 1975 - aged 28.

A biographical look at the career of the acclaimed Margot Fonteyn. As a little girl called Peggy Hookham growing up in Shanghai, she told her mother she would one day become the greatest dancer in the world. Still performing at the age of 67 despite being almost unable to walk, hers is a story of courage and tenacity, of unbelievable devotion to her art and to those whom she loved. Those who ultimately left her penniless and alone, to be buried in a pauper’s grave.

Excellent documentary about the legendary couple with large excerpts from Marguerite and Armand, Le Corsaire, Romeo and Juliet. Lots of pictures from the archives, interviews with the two performers, with Dame Ninette de Valois.

The untimely death of silent screen star Rudolph Valentino prompts the many women in his past to reminisce about his troubled rise to superstardom.

The Paris Opera Ballet's 1988 revised version of Rudolf Nureyev's 1963 production of The Nutcracker.

Wisconsin farm girl Elizabeth Carlson leaves family and her English teacher lover behind and escapes to New York. There she soon makes a career for herself as a fashion model. During a vernissage she's approached by a mysterious man whose motives are unclear...

In this experimental film conceived by Sylvie Guillem, the choreographers become dancers or photographers: William Forsythe dances a superb solo and Mats Ek films his brother and Sylvie Guillem in Smoke, an oniric and sensual duet.

Perhaps the most popular ballet video ever released, this version of Tchaikovsky's beloved work stars one of the most famous classical dance partnerships of all time, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Nureyev choreographed this production for the Vienna State Opera Ballet. Two icons of 20th-century dance in magnificent form. Ballet authority John Lanchbery, former music director of the Sadler's Wells and Royal Ballet companies, as well as of American Ballet Theatre and Australian Ballet, conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's enchanting score.

This major work brings together two of today's pre-eminent dance talents, Akram Khan, world renowned for developing his own 'contemporary Kathak' style, and international superstar Sylvie Guillem, as they explore the dynamics and language of two great classical dance forms, kathak and ballet.

Coppélia, a mechanical doll made by the toy-maker Dr. Coppelius, is so life-like that some believe she is his daughter. The mistake leads to intrigue and jealousy in love. Directed by Ross MacGibbon, with Leanne Benjamin and Carlos Acosta.

A woman, a man and smoke.

An overview of the Bournonville method through two legendary ballets of the Danish choreographer: The Sylph in its 1936 choreography and the "Pas de deux" extract from The Flower Festival in Genzano composed in 1858: two pearls of the repertoire!

A ballet version of the famous classic by Sergei Prokofiev, with narration by Anthony Dowell, who also dances the role of the Grandfather.

The members of the legendary Paris Opera Ballet -- including Sylvie Guillem, Patrick Dupond and Noella Pontois -- show off their superb control and style in this compilation of highlights from various ballets. Set to music from renowned composers including Tchaikovsky, Grieg and Sibelius, the seven original dances are "Escamillo," "Le Petit Pan," "Bambou," "Grande Pas Classique," "Rixe," "Une Femme" and "The White Swan (Swan Lake)."

The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet’s repertory. It was the ballet with which the Company reopened the Royal Opera House in 1946 after World War II, its first production at its new home in Covent Garden. Margot Fonteyn danced the role of the beautiful Princess Aurora in the first performance, with Robert Helpmann as Prince Florimund. Sixty years later, in 2006, the original 1946 staging was revived by then Director of The Royal Ballet Monica Mason and Christopher Newton, returning Oliver Messel’s wonderful designs and glittering costumes to the stage.

This historic performance from 1968 captures Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Nureyev's legendary performance makes this the definitive Nutcracker on video. Watch, and enjoy being transported with Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairies and the Nutcracker Prince into a world of fantasy!

"A Paris Opera Production filmed in studio with Sylvie Guillem, Charles Jude and Rudolf Nureyev as a movie producer. The ballet is set in Hollywood in the 30′s." - nureyev.org