Continuing the Ballet Russe legacy! The World's Leading Ballet Information Blog. Original Members from the Ballet Russe along with current dancers from Media City Ballet of Los Angeles share advice and points of view on the danceworld then and now.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Ballet Russe: Paul Maure - 84 yrs old - Interview



He'll be 84 soon and still DANCES....

Paul Maure has danced leading roles with the Grand Ballet de Monte Carlo, the Marquis de Cuevas Ballet, Pacifica Ballet of Laguna Beach and with Santa Monica Civic Ballet, among others. He has worked with some of the greatest choreographers in the world, including: Leonide Massine, George Balanchine, David Lichine, Bronislava Nijinska, Maurice Bejart, Paul Goube, Nicolas Svereff, Gustave Ricaux, Harold Lander and Serge Lifar. He has partnered with renowned ballerinas like: Lycette Darsonval of the Paris Opera, Cynthia Gregory, Janine Charrat, Josette Clavier and Ludmilla Tcherina, to name a few. Born in Marseille, France, Maure has taught ballet for the Centre de Danse in Salle Pleyel Paris, France, University of California in Riverside, Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach, Los Angeles Dance Center, Ambassador College in Pasadena and Le Lycee Français de Los Angeles, among others. Maure has also choreographed for the television shows, Fantasy Island and Columbo. He was recently one of the dancers honored in Media City Ballet's production of Men of the Ballet Russe.

He will be 84 this year and still teaches class many times a week. I take his class every Tuesday and he always has a beautiful smile. His barre is great but his centre work is so much fun. Filled with pirouettes, fouettes and jumps galore. We work so hard for him - he's such an inspiration. He demands that we PERFORM in class with feeling and passion. And we do, because after all we are in the presence of one of the Men of the Ballet Russe.

Here's a two part interview he did when he was almost 80 years old. Pictures from his days with the Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo and even the Moulin Rouge!! This is never seen before treasure.




CALENDAR
  • May 28, 2009: "Tango, Tonight" @ Woody's Cafe, Woodbury University Burbank, CA (818) 972-9692
  • June 8, 2009: "Swing for the Arts - Angeles National Golf Classic", http://www.mediacityballet.org/

BALLERINA SECRETS

Photoshoot Opp? Make sure to give yourself a class as warm up before taking your pics. Your lines and balance will be superb on your still shots! And you'll avoid injury and possibly pulling muscles while trying to pose.

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Editor: Raquel Cordova


1 comment:

Jeff said...

What an inspiration! You don't stop dancing when you get old - you get old when you stop dancing! Bravo Mr. Maure.

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Natasha Middleton with Associate Director, Ruben Tonoyan, directs Media City Ballet of Los Angeles. MCB of LA is the only ballet company in Los Angeles presenting performances in the tradition and philosophy of the legendary Ballet Russe de Serge Diaghilev. Visit us at http://www.mediacityballet.org