Mia Slavenska as Prima Ballerina of the Vienna Opera Company ('The Great Waltz' 1955)

In the movie 'The Great Waltz' (1955), Mia Slavenska plays the role of the Prima Ballerina of the Vienna Opera Company, performing at a great ball. The ballerina was thirty-nine years old at the time and her technique is still formidable! Wonderful balances, crisp delicate execution, accelerating pirouettes, lightness, beautiful beautiful feet, lovely fresh line … . The movie tells the story of Johann Strauss, Jr., a would-be composer of waltzes in mid-19th Century Vienna. The composer attempts to thwart his father's efforts to prevent his success when the older man becomes jealous of his melodic skill. Keith Andes plays Johann Strauss, Jr. Bert Lahr, who played the lion without courage in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) has the role of Hans Ebesteder. Alan D kindly tells us that James Starbuck was the choreographer on this movie - http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/19/art... Enjoy!