Afternoon of a Faun

Stringer, Walter: Gary Norman and Michela Kirkaldie in Jerome Robbins' 'Afternoon of a faun', the Australian Ballet [1], 1978

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Jerome Robbins's Afternoon of a Faun was first performed in Australia by the New York City Ballet in 1958. This pas de deux, of approximately ten minutes, is performed to the Debussy score that accompanied Vaslav Nijinsky's 1912 ballet of the same name. The content of the Nijinsky original, which incorporated themes of narcissism, sexuality and voyeurism, is also reflected in the Robbins version. It is set in a ballet studio, with the male and female dancer facing an imaginary mirror between them and the audience.

The Australian Ballet’s premiere of Robbins’s Afternoon of a Faun took place on May 15, 1978, in Sydney, featuring Marilyn Rowe and Gary Norman. This production was staged by Francisco Moncion, who danced the male role at both the world premiere in New York in 1953 and the Australian premiere by the New York City Ballet in 1958. At later performances Marilyn Jones and Michela Kirkaldie appeared as the girl, and David Burch and Craig Sterling performed the male role.

Afternoon of a Faun will feature in the Australian Ballet's 2008 season as part of the program 'Jerome Robbins – a celebration'.

See also: Apres-midi d'un faune, L' ; Australian Ballet, The ; Jones, Marilyn ; New York City Ballet Australian Tours ; Norman, Gary ; Rowe, Marilyn

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