Hans Van Manen Festival

Hans Van Manen Festival
by Ted Brandsen

List Price: ~~$29.99~~
Our Price: $26.99
You Save: $3.00 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $14.23 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases

Compare Prices for Hans Van Manen Festival

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich), Dutch National Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater
Director: Ted Brandsen
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 130 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-05-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: KULTUR VIDEO

Movie Reviews of Hans Van Manen Festival

Movie Review: Incredible dancers, but otherwise disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars

I've always had an interest in ballet so when I saw that this recording was available and then read the positive review by David Thierry, I decided to get this DVD. This turned out to be a case of 'one man's treasure is another...

This performance was recorded in Sept 2007 in the Netherlands; it was dedicated as a tribute to fete choreographer van Manen's 75th birthday, by dancing some of his 'most celebrated ballets'.

There were things I liked and disliked about this DVD...let me explain

The Pros:

1.)The dancers could really dance! They were young, flexible and lithe; I could only wish to have been in such shape when I was that age.

2.)There were segments of dance that were very pleasing to watch during this performance (the 'trois gnossiennes' and some moments of '5 Tangos' come to mind); unfortunately they were few and far between.

The Cons:

1.)The choreography. A lot of the dance (with some notable exceptions above) appeared wooden and stiff; it lacked a sense of flow and spontaneity. The general motif for the entire night's performance was that of classical ballet techniques blended with modern dance, and it just didn't fit; and maybe it didn't fit, because of...

2.)The music! A selection of music as dreary and morose to dance to as I've ever heard...and this continued throughout the entire performance. Usually if you go to concert there may be something that doesn't please your ear; but rarely the entire evening's offerings. And there was nothing technically wrong with the playing of the music, but the melodies were so 'unpleasant' (IMHO) as to border on a description of being 'awful'. I can't image what would have persuaded the powers that be, who had the choice of music, to pick the audio selections they did.
Shows like this always make me wonder how the dancers felt about performing to such music; surely something a little more 'pleasant' would help with one's 'dancing attitude'.

Conclusion:

To have a great dance performance you need three things: great choreography, great music and great dancers; a nights entertainment featuring just one out of three is really unacceptable.
If, your a hard core van Manen fan you'll may really like this; I honestly did not.
5 Stars for the incredibly skilled and talented dancers. 2 Stars for the overall DVD

Ray Nicholson

Write your own review

Summary of Hans Van Manen Festival

The Hans van Manen Festival was staged by The Dutch National Ballet to celebrate the work of choreographer Hans van Manen for his 75th birthday. International guest artists from companies such as the Kirov Ballet, and Nederlands Dans Theater, joined Dutch National Ballet to perform some of van Manen's most celebrated ballets.

This gala event includes stunning performances from internationally renowned ballerinas Uliana Lopatkina, Lucia Lacarra and the brightest stars of Dutch dance including Larissa Lezhnina and Igone de Jongh of Dutch National Ballet and the young talent of Nederlands Dans Theater. Recorded at Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, with behind the scenes footage and interviews.

Choreography by Hans van Manen

ADAGIO HAMMERKLAVIER
Performed by Dutch National Ballet: Natalia Hoffmann, Larissa Lezhnina, Tam?s Nagy, Anna Tsygankova, Jozef Varga, Artem Yachmennikov
Music by Beethoven

SIMPLE THINGS
Performed by Nederlands Dans Theater II :Celia Amade, Nina Botkay, Javier Monzon, Roger van Der Poel
Music by Guy Klusevsek and Alan Bern, Josef Haydn and Peteris Vasks

TROIS GNOSSIENNES
Performed by the Kirov Ballet: Uliana Lopatkina, Ivan Kozlov,.Music by Erik Satie

5 TANGOS

Performed by Bayerisches Staatsballett: Lucia Lacarra, Alen Bottaini
Music by Astor Piazzolla; Performed live by Carel Kraayenhof y su Sexteto Canyengue

*BONUS*

Interviews: Hans Van Manen and eminent performers

TWILIGHT
Performed by Dutch National Ballet: Igone de Jongh, Alexander Zhembrovskyy. Music by John Cage

Educational DVD Video

DVD Video

Movies most talked about in Educational DVD Video

The Biggest Loser Workout: Cardio Max
LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $7.43
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Fat Free Yoga - Lose Weight & Feel Great FOR BEGINNERS & BEYOND w/ Ana Brett & Ravi Singh NOW W/ THE **MATRIX**
Release date: 2005-09-20; DVD
Best price: $10.89
Price in other shops: ~~$15.95~~

Leap Frog - Letter Factory
Leap Frog; Release date: 2003-12-09; DVD
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer (DVD)
Happiest Baby On The Block; Release date: 2003-03-18; DVD
Best price: $13.25
Price in other shops: ~~$25.95~~

Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [HD DVD]
Ingram; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $34.99
Price in other shops: ~~$99.98~~

Tracy Anderson Method Presents Dance Cardio Workout DVD
DVD
Best price: $29.95

Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $57.00
Price in other shops: ~~$99.98~~

The Secret (Extended Edition)
The Secret; Release date: 2006-10-01; Published: 2006; DVD
Best price: $4.70
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $19.97
Price in other shops: ~~$79.98~~

Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2008-03-18; DVD
Best price: $7.30
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Similar DVD Movies

La Fille Mal Gardee
Release date: 2008-07-29; DVD
Best price: $20.27
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Release date: 2007-11-20; DVD
Best price: $20.31
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

Nederlands Dans theater Celebrates Jiri Kylian
Release date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $21.92
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

New York City Ballet: Bringing Back Balanchine
Release date: 2008-11-11; DVD
Best price: $11.22
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Maurice Bejart: l'Amour - La Danse
Release date: 2006-04-18; DVD
Best price: $16.91
Price in other shops: ~~$27.98~~

Hans van Manen: Nederlands Dans Theater, HET Nationale Ballet [DVD Video]
Release date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $20.78
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

Delibes: Sylvia
Release date: 2008-01-29; DVD
Best price: $22.01
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

Arag?n: Snow White (ballet)
Release date: 2008-02-12; DVD
Best price: $18.01
Price in other shops: ~~$29.98~~

Giselle
Release date: 2008-06-24; DVD
Best price: $22.17
Price in other shops: ~~$32.98~~

The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets
Paris; Release date: 2008-02-05; DVD
Best price: $7.93
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~