Friday, October 28, 2011

Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About

Jerome Robbins was the foremost American choreographer. A classically trained dancer, he fused prototypical ballet with modern dance and created some of the most memorable Broadway routines including "West Side Story", "Gypsy", and "Fiddler on the Roof". He also found success in the ballet, including a partnership with the world reknowned Russian choreographer George Balanchine at the New York City Opera. Born into an immigrant Jewish family with an eccentric mother and closed off father, he was much beloved by friends, but masked his insecurities, and was known as being extremely demanding in his work, often at the cost of friendships and collaborators. With interviews from friends, colleagues, and critics including Rita Moreno, Arthur Laurents, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Stephen Sondheim, "Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance" provides a loving portrait of a difficult and unyielding man, while displaying some of his ingenious and innovative work.