The Hard Nut (Nonesuch, $24.99) Mark Morris’s holiday classic—sadly, too rarely seen in New York—is finally available on DVD. In this marvelous treatment of the E.T.A. Hoffmann story, Morris doesn’t shy away from the scary parts of the tale; he also uses the entire Tchaikovsky score. Disco extras include the Arabian dance, of which Morris is the star, cut for time in the original PBS broadcast. Enough said. .
Life Behind the Metaphor (The Nureyev Legacy Project; nureyevlegacy.org; $120) For that crazed balletomane in your life, this stunning photography book, with text by Rudi van Dantzig and Roger Urban—and photos by the latter—is a stellar collector’s item. And what’s more, each copy of the first printing includes a lithograph signed by the photographer.
Magical Jewelry by Annmaria (annmaria.com, $20–$250) The extraordinary Paul Taylor dancer Annmaria Mazzini began making jewelry the same year she started touring with Taylor 2. Her custom designs are more than beautiful: “The finished piece is a magical tool, charged with love and support for the positive intentions of the wearer,” she explains. Each is also one-of-a-kind, lovingly crafted by Mazzini, with a bit of magic thrown in for free.
In the Wings (John Wiley & Sons, $35) “As a dancer,” writes Kyle Froman in the introduction to his look at life in New York City Ballet, “I’ve often felt the view behind the scenes was more interesting than the finished product.” Reading the book, featuring intimate photographs and observations by Froman, is akin to being granted a backstage pass
Martha Graham: Dance on Film (Criterion Collection, $39.95) This two-disc set honors Graham with a multitude of features, including 1957’s
A Dancer’s World, narrated by the choreographer; new interviews with six dancers; and performances of
Appalachian Spring (1958) and
Night Journey (1961). Navigating the material is like hunting for treasure—and never coming up short.
