Coppélia was one of the first titles chosen by Mme. Alonso for the Cuban National Ballet's repertoire. Leon Fokine staged a
version after Petipa for the company, which starred her and Igor Youskevitch. This Coppélia premiered on December 28, 1948, at the Teatro Auditorium, which is now the Amadeo Roldan Theater in Havana. In 1957, Mme. premiered her own version of Coppélia with her company at the Los Angeles Greek Theater. There she interpreted the role of Swanilda, and was partnered by Andre Eglevsky as Franz. For this new production, Mme. Alonso meticulously worked to recapture and protect original elements of Saint-Léon and Petipa. At the same time, she enriched the choreography with moments of great technical virtuosity, established classical demi-caractère (semi-character) style, and took great care of the narrative coherence of the plot. It's been reported by some accounts that his was the first time that in the US was staged the full-length choreography of this ballet (?), which Mme. alonso staged it, directed and danced it. This is also the current version of CNB. I hope you all enjoy this little gem...(and talk about sautees on pointe..!! )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmS2biyypuk...feature=related

Thank you! I really enjoyed the clip...Quadruple fouette finish, too! Wow...However, Willam Christensen (SFB) staged the first full-length Coppelia in the United States in 1938. First full-length Nutcracker, too...

...and not-to-forget the Ballet Russe with the incomparable pair of Danilova and Franklin many years before Alonso's version.......

Thanks Gina and Mel for the valuable info! I actually finished Danilova's autobiography, and saw her pics of the Ballet Russes production. Lovely endeed!

True, and first Swan Lake also (1940)

My first teacher (Merriem Lanova) danced with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and I grew up with her version of Coppelia (which closely resembled the Ballet Russe version). I am very partial to this ballet! The score is just so wonderful! The first role I ever danced was a little "seated doll" in Dr. Coppelius' workshop. I then moved on to "Chinese Doll", to Mazurka and Czardas, then Swanhilda's Friend, and finally (at 14) the Dawn variation. I just staged full length Coppelia for my ballet school last spring based mostly on my childhood memories of the ballet ( I was one of those little kids who knew everybody's role!)... P.S. Miss Lanova knew Alicia Alonso well...

Very nice, this reminded me of Margot Fonteyn too, in that filmed 'Corsaire' with Nureyev. I think those are the same kind of sautees.

...and here's a clip of the current production-(exactly the same). Swanilda is Lorna Feijoo pre-defection. Enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4pFXtCoD3k