December 06, 2025
The ETV Tape Vault gives up a tender dream with this ETV Classic! Opening with views of the Scottish countryside and poetry from “Ae Fond Kiss” by Robert Burns, the stage is set for this beautifully done two act ballet. It is early morning in a Scottish manor house on the wedding day of young James, who sits dozing by the fire. A Sylphide, part human, part insect, and part spirit, dances through his dream. Waking, he is astonished to find that his dream seems to be a reality, but when he tries to catch her, she vanishes.
Performed by the Columbia City Ballet, this production has it all! A witch, harpies, sylphs, sparkling reels, and broken hearts, you will find it here in this enchanting ballet.
Side Notes
- La Sylphide - La Sylphide (English: The Sylph; Danish: Sylfiden) is a romantic ballet in two acts. There were two versions of the ballet: the original choreographed by Filippo Taglioni in 1832, and a second version choreographed by August Bournonville in 1836. Bournonville's is the only version known to have survived and is one of the world's oldest surviving ballets.
- August Bournonville (August 1805 – November 1879) was a Danish ballet master and choreographer. He was the son of Antoine Bournonville, a dancer and choreographer trained under the French choreographer, Jean Georges Noverre, and the nephew of Julie Alix de la Fay, née Bournonville, of the Royal Swedish Ballet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Bournonville
- Robert Burns - Ae Fond Kiss.
- Cynthia Gilliam obituary and online memorial.
