Erik Bruhn choreographed a version of Romeo and Juliet, which he and Carla Fracci danced with the Rome Opera Ballet in 1966.
Between performances, they recorded the balcony scene, which today has been uploaded to YouTube for the first time. A year later, the two danced Bruhn's version with the American Ballet Theatre in New York.
In Fracci's autobiography, Passo dopo passo (Step by Step), she wrote,
I was fortunate to meet Erik, a superb dancer, a true professional and a kind man. He had an effortlessness in his dancing that was unique, and his perfection was incredible with a precise technique and great elegance.
We shared the same language without inhibitions or limits: together we were able to overcome our shortcomings and the hours of hard work together were enlightening. On stage, we had a perfect symbiotic relationship, something I can't put into words… We had a strong fraternal bond of love, admiration and respect.

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
Wow, Haglund. Thanks for posting this. I saw many, many performances at ABT in the 60’s and 70’s but don’t remember this. Always loved Bruhn and Fracci in Giselle and La Sylphide. What an amazing partnership. This video is revelatory about a totally different side of their partnership. What utterly sublime artists, who use stunning virtuosity to express depths of feeling, but can also touch our hearts just by the simplest gesture.
Oops, sorry – thanks to Gramilano, not Haglund. 🙁
You’re welcome 😉