The Original Ballet Russe (originally named Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo) was a

ballet company A ballet company is a type of dance troupe which performs classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and/or contemporary ballet in the European tradition, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round ba ...

established in 1931 by René Blum and Colonel

Wassily de Basil Vassily Grigorievich Voskresensky (16 September 1888 – 27 July 1951), usually referred to as Colonel Wassily de Basil, was a Russian ballet impresario. De Basil was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1888 (his year of birth is given alternately as ...

as a successor to the Ballets Russes, founded in 1909 by

Sergei Diaghilev Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev ( ; rus, Серге́й Па́влович Дя́гилев, , sʲɪˈrɡʲej ˈpavləvʲɪdʑ ˈdʲæɡʲɪlʲɪf; 19 August 1929), usually referred to outside Russia as Serge Diaghilev, was a Russian art critic, pa ...

. The company assumed the new name ''Original Ballet Russe'' after a split between de Basil and Blum. De Basil led the renamed company, while Blum and others founded a new company under the name

Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo The company Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo (with a plural name) was formed in 1932 after the death of Sergei Diaghilev and the demise of Ballets Russes. Its director was Wassily de Basil (usually referred to as Colonel W. de Basil), and its ...

. It was a large scale professional ballet company which toured extensively in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the United States, and Central and South America. It closed down operations in 1947.

History

Dissolution of Ballets Russes and formation of Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo

The company's name is derived from the Ballets Russes of impresario

. The last season of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes was 1929, during which it toured and performed in both

London, England London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...

, and

Paris, France Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

. During the final season, it produced the new ballets '' The Prodigal Son'' and ''Le Bal''. The company performed for the final time in London at the Covent Garden Theatre on July 26, 1929. Diaghliev died of complications from

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

a month later, on August 19, 1929. In 1931, with the help from financier

Serge Denham Serge may refer to: *Serge (fabric), a type of twill fabric *Serge (llama) (born 2005), a llama in the Cirque Franco-Italien and internet meme *Serge (name), a masculine given name (includes a list of people with this name) *Serge (post), a hitchi ...

, René Blum and Colonel

formed Les Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo. One of the new company's board members was American businessman Jim Thompson.

Massine and Balanchine join

The company hired

Leonide Massine Leonide or Léonide is a masculine given name which may refer to: * Leonide or Leonid of Georgia (1861–1921), Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia * Leonid Berman (1896–1976), Russian Neo-romantic painter and theater and opera designer * Léo ...

and George Balanchine as choreographers. The majority of the works performed had previously been staged by Diaghilev's company, but other new works were commissioned, such as ''Jeux d'enfants'', with music by Georges Bizet and sets by Joan Miró. Featured dancers included

David Lichine David Lichine (russian: Дэвид (Давид) Лишин; 25 October 1910 – 26 June 1972) was a Russian-American ballet dancer and choreographer. He had an international career as a performer, ballet master, and choreographer, staging works fo ...

(who soon began choreographing ballets for the company), and the " baby ballerinas"

Irina Baronova Irina Mikhailovna Baronova FRAD (; 13 March 1919 – 28 June 2008) was a Russian ballerina and actress who was one of the Baby Ballerinas of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, discovered by George Balanchine in Paris in the 1930s. She created ...

Tamara Toumanova Tamara Toumanova ( ka, თამარა თუმანოვა; 2 March 1919 – 29 May 1996) was a Georgian-American prima ballerina and actress. A child of exiles in Paris after the Russian Revolution of 1917, she made her debut at the ag ...

, and Tatiana Riabouchinska. The company conductor was

Efrem Kurtz Efrem Kurtz (russian: Ефрем Курц; November 7, 1900June 27, 1995) was a Russian conductor. Life and career Kurtz was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He studied at the Saint Petersburg conservatory with Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai Tch ...

, who stayed until 1942, touring with them extensively, and the librettist was Boris Kochno. The company gave its first performance in

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...

in 1932. Without consulting Blum, Col. de Basil dropped Balanchine after one year – ostensibly because he thought that audiences preferred the works choreographed by Massine. Librettist Kochno was also let go, while dancer Toumanova left the company when Balanchine was fired. According to historian Katherine Sorley-Walker, however, Balanchine and Kochno left of their own volition, because they found Blum and De Basil "dictatorial."

Blum leaves, Nijinska joins

Col. de Basil and Blum had an acrimonious relationship,Homans, Jennifer
"René Blum: Life of a Dance Master,"
''New York Times'' (July 8, 2011). which ended in 1934 with Blum breaking up the partnership. Col. de Basil renamed his company ''Ballets Russes de Colonel W. de Basil''. In April, 1934,

Bronislava Nijinska Bronislava Nijinska (; pl, Bronisława Niżyńska ; russian: Бронисла́ва Фоми́нична Нижи́нская, Bronisláva Fomínična Nižínskaja; be, Браніслава Ніжынская, Branislava Nižynskaja; – Febr ...

directed the company's season at the Théâtre de Monte-Carlo, presenting her ballets ''Bolero,'' ''Variations,'' ''Etude'', and ''Les Comediens Jaloux''. Nijinska created ''Les Cent Baisers'' for the company's London season in 1935. The company struggled financially in the wake of the Great Depression, and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Sol Hurok Sol Hurok (Solomon Israilevich Hurok; born Solomon Izrailevich Gurkov, Russian Соломон Израилевич Гурков; April 9, 1888March 5, 1974) was a 20th-century American impresario. Early life Hurok was born in Pogar, Chernigo ...

, an American, took over the management of the Ballet Russe and brought the company to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

The company splits

In 1937, Massine left, joining with Blum to form their own company, recruiting several dancers from their previous group. However, the ballets which Massine had choreographed while under contract with Col. de Basil were owned by his company. Massine sued de Basil in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

to regain the intellectual property rights to his own works. He also sued to claim the ''Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo'' name. The jury decided that de Basil owned Massine's ballets created between 1932 and 1937, but not those created before 1932. through the Internet Archive It also ruled that both successor companies could use the name ''Ballet Russe'' – but only Massine and Blum's company could be called

. Col. de Basil renamed his company again, calling it the '' Covent Garden Russian Ballet'' and bringing on

Michel Fokine Michael Fokine, ''Mikhail Mikhaylovich Fokin'', group=lower-alpha ( – 22 August 1942) was a groundbreaking Imperial Russian choreographer and dancer. Career Early years Fokine was born in Saint Petersburg to a prosperous merchant an ...

as resident choreographer.

ended up managing Blum and Massine's company as well. The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and the Original Ballet Russe often performed near each other. Under its new name, the company's first season, starting May 1938, was at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Massine's Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo had a season at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane a few hundred yards away, and this season was known as the "London Ballet Wars". After London, Hurok booked both of the companies to perform in New York (with de Basil's company playing the Hollywood Theatre), for a total of fifteen weeks, making it the longest ballet season of New York. Along with management, the two companies also shared dancers. Hurok continued to have the companies perform near each other; he hoped to reunite the companies, but ultimately was unsuccessful. The company then spent some weeks on a " whistle stop" tour of America, sleeping on the special train hired to transport them. In 1939, the company spent a six-week season at Covent Garden. English ballerina Mona Inglesby danced with the company that season. Finally, in 1939, Col. de Basil gave the company its final name, the ''Original Ballet Russe''. The company toured extensively throughout Europe and Australia, visiting Australia in 1936–37, 1938–39, and 1939–40.Amanda
"Ballets Russes"
''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory ...

'' (17 July 2005) During his visit to Australia, de Basil commissioned work from Australians, especially from designers, who included Sidney Nolan and Kathleen and Florence Martin. He also instigated a design competition for an original Australian ballet, which was won by

Donald Friend Donald Stuart Leslie Friend (6 February 1915 – 16 August 1989) was an Australian artist and diarist who lived much of his life overseas. He has been the subject of controversy since the posthumous publication of diaries in which he wrote of sex ...

with designs for a ballet based on a fictitious event in the life of

Ned Kelly Edward Kelly (December 1854 – 11 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing a suit of bulletproof armour during his final shootout wi ...

.. A number of dancers stayed in Australia, including

Kira Bousloff Kira Abricossova Bousloff (1914–2001) was a dancer with Ballets Russes who toured Australia in 1938 and stayed, divorcing first husband Serge Bousloff then marrying (and divorcing) James Penberthy while having a significant influence on the e ...

, who went on to found the

West Australian Ballet West Australian Ballet is the State ballet company of Western Australia and is based in Perth, at the Western Australian Ballet Centre in Maylands. The company was founded in 1952 by Madame Kira Bousloff (formerly of the Ballets Russes) and ...

During World War II

Soon after they returned to the United States in 1939,

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

broke out. The company suffered financially, but was able to book an entire cast of dancers on tour to Havana, Cuba, in 1941.

Alberto Alonso Alberto Julio Rayneri Alonso (22 May 1917 – 31 December 2007) was a Cuban dancer and choreographer, the brother of Fernando Alonso and brother-in-law of Alicia Alonso (née Martinez). He was influential in the development of the Cuban sty ...

and his first wife Patricia Denise danced all the principal roles on the Havana tour. The company could not pay the dancers adequately, and some took second jobs in nightclubs to survive.

Principal dancer A principal dancer (often shortened to principal) is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company. A principal may be male or female. The position is similar to that of '' soloist''; however, p ...

s were forced to take roles that were not solos.Associated Press
"Former New York City Ballet star Yvonne Mounsey, who founded West Coast school, dies at 93,"
''Washington Post'' (Oct. 3, 2012). While in Cuba,

and Tatiana Leskova appeared in ''Conga Pantera'' at the Cabaret Tropicana. Other dancers included Tamara Grigorieva, Nina Verchinina, Anna Leontieva, Genevieve Moulin, Tatiana Leskova, Anna Volkova, Your Lazowski, Dimitri Romanoff, Roman Jasinski, Paul Petroff, and Oleg Tupin.

Disbandment

In 1947, the Original Ballet Russe gave its last season in London before disbanding. The company was revived in 1951 by family members G. Kirsta and the Grigorievs, after Col. de Basil died. The company proved to be financially unstable, and folded while on tour in Europe in 1952.

In popular culture

A feature documentary about the company, featuring interviews with many of the dancers, was released in 2005, with the title '' Ballets Russes''. ''A Thousand Encores: Ballets Russes in Australia'' was a documentary screened on ABC Television on November 3, 2009, about the company's three visits to Australia between 1936 and 1940. The documentary claims that there is more footage of the Ballet Russes in Australia than anywhere else in the world. Some film was in colour, a rarity for that time.

Works

* 1932 ** George Balanchine's ''Cotillion'', ''

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme ''Le Bourgeois gentilhomme'' (, translated as ''The Bourgeois Gentleman'', ''The Middle-Class Aristocrat'', or ''The Would-Be Noble'') is a five-act ''comédie-ballet'' – a play intermingled with music, dance and singing – written by Molière ...

'', ''La Concurrence'', and ''Suites de Danses''García-Márques, Vicente. ''Massine: A Biography'' (New York: Knopf, 1995). ** Léonide Massine's ''Jeux d'enfants'' **Boris Romanoff's ''Chout'' (''Le Bouffon'') ''Pulcinella'', and ''L'Amour Sorcier'' **

Lev Ivanov Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (russian: link=no, Лев Ива́нович Ива́нов; 2 March 1834, Moscow – 24 December 1901, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet. ...

's ''Le Lac des Cygnes'' ('' Swan Lake''), act II **

's ''Petrouchka, Les Sylphides,'' and ''The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor'' * 1933 **

's ''Nocturne'' (set to the music of

Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau (; – ) was a French composer and music theorist. Regarded as one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the 18th century, he replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and ...

) ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Présages'' (set to

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

's Symphony No. 5), ''Le Beau Danube, Beach, Scuola di Ballo,'' and ''Les Matelots'' ** 14 September —

's '' Carnaval'' (set to Robert Schumann's '' Carnaval'', Op. 9), London, UK ** 24 October premiere — Leonide Massine's ''Choreartium'' (set to Brahm's Fourth Symphony), Alhambra Theatre, London, UK **

Vaslav Nijinsky Vaslav (or Vatslav) Nijinsky (; rus, Вацлав Фомич Нижинский, Vatslav Fomich Nizhinsky, p=ˈvatsləf fɐˈmʲitɕ nʲɪˈʐɨnskʲɪj; pl, Wacław Niżyński, ; 12 March 1889/18908 April 1950) was a ballet dancer and choreog ...

's ''L'Après-midi d'un faune'' * 1934 ** Léonide Massine's ''Le Tricorne'', Chicago ** Léonide Massine's ''Union Pacific'', Philadelphia ** Léonide Massine's ''La Boutique Fantasque'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Contes Russes'' **

's ''Les Imaginaires'' **

's ''Bolero'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Variations'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Étude'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Les Comediens Jaloux'' ** Marius Petipa's ''Le Marriage d'Aurore'' (arranged by Nijinska) **

's ''L'Oiseau de feu'' * 1935 ** Léonide Massine's ''Jardin public'', Chicago ** Léonide Massine's ''Le Bal'', Chicago ** Léonide Massine's Union Pacific ** Léonide Massine's ''Les femmes de bonne humeur'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Le Soleil de Nuit'' **

's ''Les Cent Baisers'' **

's ''Schéhérazade, Thamar,'' and ''Le Spectre de la Rose'' * 1936 **

's ''Le Pavillon,'' 24 July premiere ** Léonide Massine's ''Symphonie Fantastique'' (set to Hector Berlioz' symphony), Covent Garden, London, UK, 13 October ** Léonide Massine's ''

La Boutique fantasque ''La Boutique fantasque'', also known as ''The Magic Toyshop'' or ''The Fantastic Toyshop'', is a ballet in one act conceived by Léonide Massine, who devised the choreography for a libretto written with the artist André Derain, a pioneer of ...

'', Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Australia ** Leon Woizikovsky's ''L'Amour Sorcier'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Cimarosiana'' **

's ''Cléopâtre'' and ''Papillons'' **

's ''Danses slaves et tziganes'' and ''Les Noces'' * 1936–1937 Australia tour ** Marius Petipa's ''Aurora's Wedding'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Le Beau Danube'' ** Léonide Massine's ''La Boutique Fantasque'' **

's ''Carnaval'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Contes Russes'' ** George Balanchine's ''Cotillon'' ** Michel Fokine's ''L'Oiseau de Feu'' **

's ''Les Cent Baisers'' ** Leon Woitzikowsky's ''L'Amour Sorcier'' **

's ''L'Après-midi d'un faune'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Le Soleil de Nuit'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Petrouchka'' ** Leon Woitzikowsky's ''Port Said'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Presages'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Prince Igor'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Schéhérazade'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Scuola di Ballo'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Le Spectre de la Rose'' **

's ''Swan Lake,'' Act II ** Michel Fokine's ''Les Sylphides'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Thamar'' * 1937 ** 11 January —

's ''

Petrouchka ''Petrushka'' (french: link=no, Pétrouchka; russian: link=no, Петрушка) is a ballet and orchestral concert work by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1911 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company; ...

'', Sydney ** Michel Fokine's ''Le Coq d'or'' (set to the music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov) **

's ''Francesca da Rimini'', ''Le Lion amoureux,'' and ''Les Dieux mendiants'' * 1938 ** Michel Fokine's ''Cendrillon'' ** David Lichine's ''Le Fils Prodigue'' and ''Protée'' * 1939 **

's ''Paganini'' *1940 **

Serge Lifar Serge Lifar ( ua, Сергій Михайлович Лифар, ''Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar'') ( 15 December 1986) was a Ukrainian ballet dancer and choreographer, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. No ...

's ''Le Danube bleu'' *1940 Australia tour **

's ''

Graduation Ball ''Graduation Ball'' is a ballet in one act choreographed by David Lichine to music composed by Johann Strauss II and arranged by Antal Doráti. With a scenario devised by Lichine and with scenery and costumes designed by Alexandre Benois, it wa ...

'' (set to the music of Johann Strauss II), Melbourne ** Igor Schwezoff's ''La Lutte eternelle'', Sydney ** Mikhail Obukhov (after Petipa, Saint-Leon)'s ''

Coppélia ''Coppélia'' (sometimes subtitled: ''La Fille aux Yeux d'Émail'' (The Girl with the Enamel Eyes)) is a comic ballet from 1870 originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes, with libretto by Charles-Louis-� ...

'', Sydney ** Nina Verchinina's ''Etude (The Quest)'' ** Serge Lifar's ''Icare'' and ''Pavane (Las Meninas)'' *1941 Havana tour ** Michael Fokine's ''

Les Sylphides ''Les Sylphides'' () is a short, non-narrative '' ballet blanc'' to piano music by Frédéric Chopin, selected and orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov. The ballet, described as a "romantic reverie","Ballet Theater", until 1955. A compact disk ...

'', ''Le Coq d'or'', ''Paganini'', ''Prince Igor'', '' Carnaval'', ''

Petrushka Petrushka ( rus, Петру́шка, p=pʲɪtˈruʂkə, a=Ru-петрушка.ogg) is a stock character of Russian folk puppetry. Italian puppeteers introduced it in the first third of the 19th century. While most core characters came from Italy ...

'', ''Sheherazade'', and '' Le Spectre de la Rose'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Symphonie Fantastique, Les Présages'', and ''Le Beau Danube'' ** Marius Petipa's ''Le Marriage d’Aurore'' ** George Balanchine's ''Cotillon'' and ''Balustrade'' **

's ''Les Cent Baisers'' *1942 ** Vania Psota and S. Pueyrredón de Elizalde's ''Fue una vez'' *1943 ** Vania Psota's ''El Malón'' *1944 ** Vania Psota's ''La isla de los ceibos'' *1945 **Vania Psota's ''Yx-kik'' *1946 **spring —

's ''Cain and Abel'', Mexico City **

John Taras John Taras (April 18, 1919 – April 2, 2004) was an American ballet master, repetiteur, and choreographer. Early life and education Born on the Lower East Side of New York City to Ukrainian parents, he was sent at age 16 to study ballet ...

' ''Camille'' **

William Dollar William Dollar (April 20, 1907 – February 28, 1986) was an American dancer, ballet master, choreographer, and teacher. As one of the first American ''danseurs nobles'', he performed with numerous companies, including the Philadelphia Opera Ballet ...

's ''Constantia'' ** Anton Dolin's ''Giselle'' (after Coralli) and ''Pas de Quatre'' **Antonia Cobos' ''Mute Wife'' **Edward Caton's ''Sebastian'' ** Vania Psota's ''Yara'' * 1947 **

Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

' ''Pas de Trois'' **

's ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' **spring — '' Giselle'', Metropolitan Opera House, New York Martin, John
"Rosella Hightower Scores in Giselle Role, Replacing Markova, as Ballet Russe Opens"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'', March 21, 1947. Accessed November 5, 2008. ** spring — '' Swan Lake'', Metropolitan Opera House, New York **Boris Kniasev's ''Piccoli'' and ''The Silver Birch'' ** summer —

's ''

'', London, UK *1948 **Anatole Joukovsky's ''Danzas eslavas'' **Nina Verchinina's ''Suite choréographique'' **Nina Verchinina's ''Valse triste''

References

Notes

Sources consulted

* * Sorley Walker, Kathrine. 1982. ''De Basil's Ballets Russes''. London: Hutchinson. ; New York: Atheneum. .

History

Dissolution of Ballets Russes and formation of Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo

Massine and Balanchine join

Blum leaves, Nijinska joins

The company splits

During World War II

Disbandment

In popular culture

Works

References

Notes

Sources consulted

Further reading