Violette and Mr B (2001)

Violette Verdy hands down her art, an art influenced by George Balanchine, the greatest master of modern ballet. Born in 1933, Violette Verdy trained with Madam Rousanne (Rose Sarkissian) and Victor Gsovsky, two of the most infuential teachers in the first half of the 20th century. Violette Verdy made her debuts at the Champs-Élysées Ballet in 1945, and joined, for a brief period of time, the Marigny Ballet before starting on an international career which led her to London (soloist at the London Festival Ballet in 1954 and 1955) and then New York where she settled from 1958 to 1976. From soloist she became a well-respected teacher when, in 1977, she took the direction of the Paris Opera Ballet. Basing her teaching upon Balanchine’s method, Violette Verdy has influenced the greatest names of the contemporary ballet scene, as Dominique Delouche’s documentary bears witness folowing masterclasses given at the Paris Opera.