From the Archives of Modern Art

Production Manager: Lynn Burnstan. Director of Photography: Rich Wargo. Technical Supervisor and Additional Camera: Sherman George. Editor: Lynn Burnstan.

Choreography: Elizabeth Weil Bergman. Phil Orlando. Bob Gino. Sets: Roger Sherman.

Scenic Artist: Mary Lucas. Hair and Make-Up: Paul Best. Piano: Bob Wiley

The archivist attempts to put together the “lost years” of Eleanor Antinova, the once celebrated black ballerina of Diaghlev’s Ballet Russe, when she returned to her native America to eke out a meager living in vaudeville and early movies. Her career in America is documented through narrative and dance films — recently discovered — which she made back in the Depression years, when times were bad, and even ballerinas stooped low. Includes several comedy shorts, spicy farces, even, alas, a semi-blue movie exploiting her ballerina role, along with vaudeville dance numbers and artistic interpretations. A documentary fiction.

“The Ballerina and the Poet” Ballerina: Eleanora Antinova. The Poet: Sheldon Nodelman

“2 Untitled Dance Clips” Eleanor Antin. Phil Orlando

“Love’s Shadow” Ballerina: Eleanora Antinova. The Lover: Luke Theodore Morrison

“Swan Lake” The Black Swan: Eleanor Antinova. The Prince: James Tackett. Stage Hands: Michael Weix. Robert Keppler

“Untitled (Beach Dance)” Eleanora Antinova

“La Porta Chinsa (The Closed Door)”(fragments) Eleanora Antinova.

Reviews

"The impish Antin is incorrigibly funny, a latter-day Fanny Brice capable of transformations a la Tracey Ullman" - Los Angeles Times