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

ballet company A ballet company is a type of dance troupe that 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-rou ...

established in 1931 by René Blum and Colonel

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

as a successor to the

Ballets Russes The Ballets Russes () was an itinerant ballet company begun in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Russian Revolution, Revolution ...

, founded in 1909 by

Sergei Diaghilev Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev ( ; rus, Серге́й Па́влович Дя́гилев, , sʲɪrˈɡʲej ˈpavləvʲɪdʑ ˈdʲæɡʲɪlʲɪf; 19 August 1929), also known as Serge Diaghilev, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario an ...

. 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. 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

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 city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, and

Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. During the final season, it produced the new ballets ''

The Prodigal Son The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a parable of Jesus in the Bible. The Prodigal Son or Prodigal Son may also refer to: Film * ''L'Enfant prodigue'' (1907 film) (The Prodigal Son), by Michel Carré, based on his play * , a short silent film by ...

'' and ''Le Bal''. The company performed for the final time in London at the

Covent Garden Theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is a theatre in Covent Garden, central London. The building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. The ROH is the main home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orch ...

on July 26, 1929. Diaghliev died of complications from

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

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 Board or Boards may refer to: Flat surface * Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat ** Plank (wood) ** Cutting board ** Sounding board, of a musical instrument * Cardboard (paper product) * Paperboard * Fiberboard ** Hardboard, a ...

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 * Léoni ...

and

George Balanchine George Balanchine (; Various sources: * * * * born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze;, Romanization of Georgian, : April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer, recognized as one of the most influential choreographers ...

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 Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', w ...

and sets by

Joan Miró Joan Miró i Ferrà ( , ; ; 20 April 1893 – 25 December 1983) was a Catalan Spanish painter, sculptor and Ceramic art, ceramist. A museum dedicated to his work, the Fundació Joan Miró, was established in his native city of Barcelona ...

. Featured dancers included

David Lichine David Lichine (; 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 for many ballet companies and for several Hol ...

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

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

, and

Tatiana Riabouchinska Tatiana Mikhailovna Riabouchinska (, 23 May 191724 August 2000) was a Russian American prima ballerina and teacher. Famous at age 14 as one of the three "Baby Ballerinas" of the Original Ballet Russe, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1930 ...

. The company conductor was

Efrem Kurtz Efrem Kurtz (; 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 Tcherepnin, among others. He ...

, who stayed until 1942, touring with them extensively, and the librettist was

Boris Kochno Boris Evgenievich Kochno or Kokhno (; 3 January 1904 – 8 December 1990) was a Russian poet, dancer, and librettist. Early life Kochno was born in Moscow, Russia, on 3 January 1904. His father served as a colonel in the hussars. He studied at ...

. The company gave its first performance in

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...

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 (; ; ; ; – February 21, 1972) was a Russian ballet dancer of Polish origin, and an innovative choreographer. She came of age in a family of traveling, professional dancers. Her own career began in Saint Petersburg. Soon ...

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 The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

, and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

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

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

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

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 city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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 Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. Col. de Basil renamed his company again, calling it the ''

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist sit ...

Russian Ballet'' and bringing on

Michel Fokine Michael Fokine ( – 22 August 1942) was a Russian choreographer and dancer. Career Early years Fokine was born in Saint Petersburg to a prosperous merchant and at the age of 9 was accepted into the Saint Petersburg Imperial Ballet Sch ...

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 In public transport, a request stop, flag stop, or whistle stop is a bus stop, stop or train station, station at which buses or trains, respectively, stop only on request; that is, only if there are passengers or freight to be picked up or drop ...

" tour of America, sleeping on the special train hired to transport them. In 1939, the company spent a six-week season at

. 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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, 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 (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' (17 July 2005) During his visit to Australia, de Basil commissioned work from Australians, especially from designers, who included

Sidney Nolan Sir Sidney Robert Nolan (22 April 191728 November 1992) was one of the leading Australian artists of the 20th century. Working in a wide variety of media, his oeuvre is among the most diverse and prolific in all of modern art. He is best known ...

and Kathleen and Florence Martin. He also instigated a design competition for an original Australian ballet, which was won by Donald Friend with designs for a ballet based on a fictitious event in the life of

Ned Kelly Edward Kelly (December 185411 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, bank robber and convicted police-murderer. One of the last bushrangers, he is known for wearing armour of the Kelly gang, a suit of bulletproof ...

.. A number of dancers stayed in Australia, including Kira Bousloff, who went on to found the West Australian Ballet.

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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Havana, Cuba Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Alberto Alonso 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 either gender. The position is similar to that of ''Soloist (ballet), solois ...

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 Roman Jasinski (1907- 16 April 1991, aged 83-84) was born in Warsaw, Poland and died in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Roman, commonly known as Yasha within the dance community, was a Polish ballet dancer who discovered his love for dance at a very young age. H ...

, 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 ''

''. ''A Thousand Encores: Ballets Russes in Australia'' was a documentary screened on

ABC Television ABC Television most commonly refers to: *ABC Television Network of the American Broadcasting Company, United States, or *ABC Television (Australian TV network), a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia ABC Television or ABC ...

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 Ballets Russes in Australia than anywhere else in the world. Some film was in colour, a rarity for that time.

Works

* 1932 **

's ''Cotillion'', '' Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme'', ''La Concurrence'', and ''Suites de Danses''García-Márques, Vicente. ''Massine: A Biography'' (New York: Knopf, 1995). **

Léonide Massine Leonid Fyodorovich Myasin (), better known in the West by the French transliteration as Léonide Massine (15 March 1979), was a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer. Massine created the world's first symphonic ballet, ''Les Présages'', and ...

's ''Jeux d'enfants'' **Boris Romanoff's ''Chout'' (''Le Bouffon'') ''Pulcinella'', and ''L'Amour Sorcier'' **

Lev Ivanov Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (; 2 March 1834, Moscow – 24 December 1901, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Mariinsky Ballet, Imperial Ballet. As a performer with the Mariinsky Ballet, ...

's ''Le Lac des Cygnes'' (''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoje ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, links=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failu ...

''), 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 a ...

) **

's ''Les Présages'' (set to

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular ...

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

's '' Carnaval'' (set to

Robert Schumann Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...

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

Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra Theatre was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts, opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...

, London, UK **

Vaslav Nijinsky Vaslav or Vatslav Nijinsky (12 March 1889/18908 April 1950) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer of Polish ancestry. He is regarded as the greatest male dancer of the early 20th century. Nijinsky was celebrated for his virtuosity and f ...

's ''L'Après-midi d'un faune'' * 1934 **

'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 Marius Ivanovich Petipa (; born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa; 11 March 1818) was a French and Russian ballet dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. He is considered one of the most influential ballet masters and choreographers in ballet history ...

's ''Le Mariage d'Aurore'' (arranged by Nijinska) **

's ''L'Oiseau de feu'' * 1935 **

'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 **

's ''Symphonie Fantastique'' (set to Hector Berlioz'

symphony A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...

), Covent Garden, London, UK, 13 October ** Léonide Massine's '' La Boutique fantasque'', 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 **

's ''Aurora's Wedding'' **

's ''Le Beau Danube'' ** Léonide Massine's ''La Boutique Fantasque'' **

's ''Carnaval'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Contes Russes'' **

'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'', Sydney ** Michel Fokine's ''Le Coq d'or'' (set to the music of

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov. At the time, his name was spelled , which he romanized as Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakow; the BGN/PCGN transliteration of Russian is used for his name here; ALA-LC system: , ISO 9 system: .. (18 March 1844 – 2 ...

) **

'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 (, ''Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar'') ( 15 December 1986) was a Ukrainian dancer, choreographer, and one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. Lifar was also a choreographer, director, writer, theoretician abou ...

'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 w ...

'' (set to the music of

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (; ; 25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (), was an List of Austrian composers, Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas as well ...

), 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-Éti ...

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

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 of ABT's product ...

'', ''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. It was first introduced by traveling Italian performers in the first third of the 19th century during a period of W ...

'', ''Sheherazade'', and '' Le Spectre de la Rose'' **

's ''Symphonie Fantastique, Les Présages'', and ''Le Beau Danube'' **

's ''Le Mariage d’Aurore'' **

'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 Balle ...

'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 ''Giselle'' ( , ), originally titled ''Giselle, ou les Wilis'' (; ''Giselle, or The Wilis''), is a romantic ballet () in two acts with music by Adolphe Adam. Considered a masterwork in the classical ballet performance canon, it was first perfor ...

'', 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'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', March 21, 1947. Accessed November 5, 2008. ** spring — ''

'', 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. .