Serge Lifar Talks About, Makes Up For And Performs Part of 'L'Après Midi D'Un Faune' (1940's?)

Vaslav Nijinsky choreographed 'L'après midi d'un faune' to music by Claude Debussy and danced the principle role of the faun in the original Ballets Russes production of 1912. This performance was not filmed.

Serge Lifar performed the role with the Diaghilev company in the revival of 1923. Again this was not filmed but we do have footage from perhaps the 1940s of Lifar dancing the principal role. This was recorded outdoors, not an inappropriate setting for the work.

Though Lifar would not have seen the original production, the passed-on memory of other members of the company would have informed the 1923 Ballets Russes revival and so this 1940s performance.

This footage is valuable then in that it perhaps captures some aspects of the original and legendary ballet, a work which some could argue pioneered the way for modern dance.

At its beginning, Lifar talks about how the flute was to be used and is then seen making up for the role of the faun.

Enjoy!