Casablanca, The New Dance Musical

04/06/2024

The end of my child friendly production for this excellent student company in PORTLAND , OR

04/26/2023

A little calm and serenity in our turbulent world courtesy of Sylvia Bazilis and Raul Candal, at that time the two étoiles of the Ballet of Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. This was just before Julio Bocca’s rise to fame (and he was the understudy for Raul because even at 18 yrs-old, I knew he could handle it). This is the Grand Pas from my SCENES DE BALLET which was a new ballet I made for them on my all-Clifford program when I was 38. (Same as Balanchine when that company did an all-Balanchine program). It had 50 dancers and 24 children, and the music was Glazunov’s glorious score by the same name. The children’s Polonaise was led by a 12 yr-old Paloma Herrera. Talk about small world.

10/29/2021

Tickets to the world premiere of John Clifford's A Christmas Carol are on sale now! Visit theportlandballet.org/tickets to secure yours today!
Performances, Saturday 11/27 and Sunday 11/28 at 1pm and 4pm!

03/16/2020

Maybe someday soon! Stay tuned.

Here is our second cast with Cornell Crabtree as "Major Strasser," Marife Gimenez as "Ilsa," and Douglas Gawriljuk as "Rick."

01/31/2020

While waiting on CASABLANCA I’ve started teaching again.

08/19/2019

I grew up on Streisand’s superlative version of this song, and still love it...and yet, and yet...Garland here does it full justice. I think in Garland’s day most singers (excepting great black female vocalists likes Ella Fitzgerald and of course “Lady Day”) stuck more to the original melodic line and didn’t “jazz” it up so much. Garland certainly lets out the full power of her voice near the end.

12/01/2018

CASABLANCA , THE DANCE, video promo with opening and closing bows. Filmed in 2005 in Beijing, China, at "The Great Hall of the People." Los Angeles Dance Theater. Choreography by John Clifford. Music by Clyde Allen (and using much of the incidental music from the film rearranged by Mr. Allen) Sets by John Iacovelli and Costumes by A> Christina Giannini.

Latest promo from the debut in Beijing, at "The Great Hall of the People." LOS ANGELES DANCE THEATER, director-choreographer, John Clifford

12/01/2018

The complete "Dream Ballet - Paris Flashback." Simona Noja as "Ilsa" and Giuseppe Picone as "Rick."

Here is an edited complete video of the flashback "Paris Dream Ballet" from CASABLANCA, THE DANCE as it was premiered in Beijing at "The Great Hall of of the...

12/01/2018

"Arab Boy's Dance" w/ Oscar Campisi

Here is Oscar Campisi as the, "Arab Boy," in his variation from Act II. This takes place near the beginning of Act II and the preceding action shows how, "Ri...

12/01/2018

"Rick's" Solo, Act I Giuseppe Picone

12/01/2018

https://youtu.be/p_hyZ4uoNfI

Originally produced by John Clifford's LOS ANGELES DANCE THEATER, and, WARNER BROS. THEATRE VENTURES, INC.. in Beijing, China, at, "The Great Hall of the Peo...