Does anyone remember Bulgarian born dancer Viola Essen who was one of the original members of Ballet Theatre, the company which evolved into American Ballet Theater?

Like Moira Shearer, she tried, though less successfully, to transition into films, with her main outing being 'Specter of the Rose' (1946).

This is a potpourri of the dance sequences from the film, sequences which reference ballets of Serge de Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company: ‘Le Spectre de la Rose’, ‘L'après-midi d'un faune’ and ’Sherherazade’. Essen’s partner in these sequences is Ivan Kirov.

The first extended sequence - 'Specter of the Rose’ - best gives a sense of Viola Essen as a ballerina.

The choreographer was Tamara Geva, George Balanchine’s first wife. And the music used is Carl Maria von Weber's piano piece ‘Invitation to the Dance’ as orchestrated by Hector Berlioz.

Enjoy!

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