Home / Series / BBC Documentaries / Aired Order / Season 2009 / Episode 99

For Art's Sake - The Story of Ballets Russes

Celebrating the achievements of Ballets Russes under Diaghilev's guidance and their continuing influence on dance, art and music today. The English National Ballet perform extracts from two Ballets Russes' masterpieces, Les Sylphides and Scheherazade, as well as a new version by David Dawson of the iconic Nijinsky ballet Afternoon Of A Faun. Karl Lagerfeld talks about the influence of Coco Chanel and the design legacy of the Ballets Russes. The music from the period is discussed by great French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who is joined by prolific English composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall. Ninety-five-year-old Frederick Franklin recounts what it was like to see the scandalous ending of Nijinsky's Afternoon Of A Faun, while dancers, musicians, writers, critics, stylists and historians paint a vivid portrait of this unique dance company and discuss the legacy of Diaghilev's genius on the creative arts.

English
  • Originally Aired December 11, 2009
  • Runtime 60 minutes
  • Content Rating United States of America TV-PG
  • Network BBC
  • Created December 2, 2011 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified December 2, 2011 by
    Administrator admin
Name Type Role
Ross MacGibbon Director