Stanislas Idzikowski (1894 – 12 February 1977) was a Polish dancer and

ballet master A ballet master (also balletmaster, ballet mistress, ''premier maître de ballet'' or ''premier maître de ballet en chef'') is an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company. In mo ...

, active in England, and with such historic companies as

Pavlova Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert. Originating in either Australia or New Zealand in the early 20th century, it was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.Boylen, Jeremy (reporter) (20 August 2004)Pavlova''George Negus Tonight'', Au ...

's,

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 ...

, and Vic-Wells. During his performance career, 1910-1933, he became famous for his brilliant classical technique, and for the development of ballet roles. With Beaumont he co-authored an influential book on the Cecchetti Method, still in print. He later taught dance in London.

His start in ballet: Warsaw to London

Born in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

Stanisław Idzikowski at the age of ten began his formal dance training, at the ballet school of the Wielki Theatre in his native city. Among his early instructors was the Italian dancer and teacher Enrico Cecchetti, who would later prove important for his professional life. He also studied with Stanislav Gilbert and Anatole Vilzak. Auguste Berger a

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...

n then instructed him which led to his stage debut in ''Ali Baba'', a ballet

divertissement ''Divertissement'' (from the French 'diversion' or 'amusement') is used, in a similar sense to the Italian 'divertimento', for a light piece of music for a small group of players, however the French term has additional meanings. During the 17th an ...

. When Idzikowski was sixteen, he relocated to England, and Anglicized his given name Stanisław to Stanislas. His performing career in London's West End then began, doing musical and ballet productions, e.g., ''The Belle of New York'' in 1911. He danced in the touring company of Russian ballet star

Anna Pavlova Anna Pavlovna Pavlova. (born Anna Matveyevna Pavlova; – 23 January 1931) was a Russian prima ballerina. She was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev, but is most recognized for creating ...

in 1912. He traveled to

Lausanne Lausanne ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, city of the Swiss French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway bet ...

in 1914 where he met the impresario

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 ...

. Cecchetti then recommended him for the

; he soon became a leading dancer.

In Diaghilev's ''Ballets Russes''

A small, muscular man, Idzikowski had developed a strong classical ballet technique and was capable of performing virtuosic feats. With the Diaghilev company, he first assumed roles made famous by Vaslav Nijinsky, its former star performer and a world celebrity. Thus, in choreographer

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 ...

's ballets Idzikowski danced: the role of

Harlequin Harlequin (, , ; , ) is the best-known of the comic servant characters (Zanni) from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by the Italian actor-manager Zan ...

in ''Le Carnaval''; in ''Petrushka'', the title role; and in '' Le Spectre de la Rose'', the Spirit. Yet their interpretive approach could differ. As Harlequin, Nijinsky expressed a "spirit of subtle mockery and cynical worldly wisdom". While Idzikowski, according to Beaumont, danced the part with a "mischievous certainty, but always good natured".

These roles "previously seemed the particular property of that great genius Nijinsky. Few things are more unnerving to a dancer than to execute a dance which the public is accustomed to see performed by someone else."

Idzikowshi was particularly celebrated for his phenomenal ''elevation'' and dazzling ''batterie''. As before him Cecchetti in 1890, and Nijinsky in 1907, Idzikowski in 1921 performed as the Blue Bird in the

pas de deux In ballet, a ( French, literally "step of two") is a dance duet in which two dancers, typically a male and a female, perform ballet steps together. The ''pas de deux'' is characteristic of classical ballet and can be found in many well-known ...

from ''The Sleeping Beauty'' of

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 ...

. " ismost famous role was the Blue Bird in ''The Sleeping Princess'' of 1921" premiering in London. Possessed of a strong sense of comedy and drama, he also became known for the character roles he created in the ballets of

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 ...

, including the role of the Cat in Kikimora (1916), Battista in ''Les Femmes de Bonne Humeur'' (1917), the Spark (Dandy) in ''Le Tricorne'' (1919), the Snob in '' La Boutique Fantasque'' (1919), and Corviello in ''Pulcinella'' (1920). Among his other original roles was the Cock on his perch in ''Le Renard'' (1923),

choreographed Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer creates choreographies thr ...

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 ...

. Having briefly left Ballets Russes in 1924, Idzikowski in 1925 rejoined the company. He danced with

Alexandra Danilova Aleksandra Dionisyevna Danilova (''Russian'': Александра Дионисьевна Данилова; November 20, 1903 – July 13, 1997) was a Russian-born prima ballerina, who became an American citizen. In 1989, she was recognized f ...

in its production of

Jack in the Box Jack in the Box, Inc. is an American fast food restaurant chain founded on February 21, 1951, by Robert O. Peterson in San Diego, California, where it is headquartered. The chain has over 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of t ...

, with music by the late

Erik Satie Eric Alfred Leslie Satie (born 17 May 18661 July 1925), better known as Erik Satie, was a French composer and pianist. The son of a French father and a British mother, he studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, Paris Conservatoire but was an undi ...

, choreography by

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 ...

. When

unexpectedly died in 1929, however, the ballet world lost not only the gifted impresario, but also his company as "the Ballets Russes collapsed".

Soirées de Paris, Vic-Wells, other posts

In 1924, both on leave from Ballets Russes, Idzikowski appeared with his frequent dance partner Lydia Lopokova at the

London Coliseum The London Coliseum (also known as the Coliseum Theatre) is a theatre in St Martin's Lane, City of Westminster, Westminster, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Opened on 24 December 1904 as the Lond ...

. She also was drawn to Soirées de Paris, a new dance enterprise organized by Étienne de Beaumont. It was a potential competitor of Diaghilev. "Artistic considerations" caused Lopokova to respond "with enthusiasm to Massine's offer of a place in his new company." Idzikowski also signed. Massine at Soirée de Paris wrote choreography for new ballets, including ''Mercure''.

Picasso Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, Ceramic art, ceramicist, and Scenic ...

designed decor. Staged in Paris, it was the Soirée's first and only season. "As a guest artist with the Vic‐Wells Ballet in the early 1930s, Mr. Idzikowski lent the prestige of his name to the struggling young company that is now Britain's

Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded ...

." He developed the lead male role in ''Les Rendezvous'', a ballet-divertissement choreographed by Ashton, mounted in 1933. "The leading pair of 'lovers' was performed by

Alicia Markova Dame Alicia Markova Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, DBE (1 December 1910 – 2 December 2004) was a British ballerina and a Choreography (dance), choreographer, director and teacher of classical ballet. Most noted for her ...

and Stanislas Idzikowski." The Vic-Wells company was directed by de Valois, an 'alumnus' of Ballets Russes. For Vic-Wells, Idzikowski also performed his well-known Blue Bird role in the revised, one-act ''Aurora's Wedding'', and his Harlequin in ''Carnaval''. From 1928 to 1930 Idzikowski had managed and directed his own ballet company. He later associated with the commercial production of films: ''The Gods Go a-Begging'' (1934), ''Carnival'' (1935), and '' Peg of Old Drury'' (1935). For several years starting in 1939, Idzikowski served as ballet master for Mona Inglesby's International Ballet.

Book with Beaumont on Cecchetti

In 1918 Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928), by then a renowned dancer, ballet master and pedagogue, opened a school in London. Idzikowski, his former student, joined a group of friends and associates in strongly advocating his 'Russo-Italian' method of training students. At Cecchetti's urging, Idzikowski then started to work with the maestro, and later with the balletomane Cyril W. Beaumont, to preserve and codify the Cecchetti method of teaching. Until then it had been largely developed and handed down orally. Demonstration of basic positions and exercises were made by Cecchetti and by Idzikowski, with commentary, which were then drawn by Randolph Schwabe and reduced by Beaumont to a written text. The collaboration resulted in the co-authorship by Beaumont and Idzikowski of a technical manual, completed in 1922.

" ch pupil is constructed differently, both physically and temperamentally, so that each requires adaptations of the lesson in order to supply his own particular needs."

"What then ar the qualifications of an experienced professor? First, his school-the sources of his own knowledge. Second, his reputation as a teacher and his distinction as a dancer. Third, his personal qualities; he should be conscientious, patient, and a good disciplinarian. Fourth, his capacity both as a practical demonstrator and theoretical exponent. ..."

" your experience increases, you may with advantage study the sister arts of mime, music, painting, drawing, and sculpture. ... Seek to discover why these works afford your pleasure. Thus you will learn what is meant by grace and beauty. Endeavor to apply these same principles to your own art."

Later, the London dancer

Celia Franca Celia Franca (25 June 1921 – 19 February 2007) was a co-founder of The National Ballet of Canada (1951) and its artistic director for 24 years. Early life Franca was born Celia Franks in London, England, the daughter of an East End ta ...

became a dance student of Idzikowsky. Franca became the first artistic director of the

National Ballet of Canada The National Ballet of Canada is a Canadian ballet company that was founded in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario, with Celia Franca, the first artistic director. A company of 70 dancers with its own orchestra, the National Ballet has been led since 2022 ...

and co-founded the National Ballet School of Canada; both institutions use the Cecchetti method. In 1922 Beaumont moved to found the Cecchetti Society, which merged with the ISTD in 1924.

As ballet teacher in London

Acting as ballet master he had instructed performers in various ballet companies. From 1933 he had taught, eventually from his own dance studio in London. There he was accompanied on piano by his longtime partner Wanda Evina (1891-1966). Since 1916 they had been romantically linked. Evina was British, a professional dancer, and an accomplished pianist. He worked also with the Royal Academy of Dance. Among his students was

Margot Fonteyn Dame Margaret Evelyn de Arias Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, DBE ( Hookham; 18 May 191921 February 1991), known by the stage name Margot Fonteyn (), was an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with th ...

. She remembered him as a guest teacher during her early years at Sadler's Wells under Ninette de Valois, which would have been in the mid 1930s:

"My favorite was Stanislas Idzikowski, affectionately known as Idzi, a brilliant dancer who had been with the Diaghilev Ballet. He was diminutive, dapper, and precise, speaking rather good English with a clipped Polish accent. Severe but never unkind, he knew exactly what he expected of his students and explained clearly how to achieve it."

He married Sally Wheeler from Horsham (1890-1973) in January 1939 at Wandsworth.They did not have any children. Following the death of Madame Evina, he retired from ballet at age 72.

Descriptions of Idzikowski

"He is quiet, though animated in conversation, but moody and sensitive in the highest degree." "In stature he is short... . His torso and limbs are those of an athlete. The muscular development of his calves and thighs is extraordinary. ... ischeek bones high... , wavy hair... almost white... ,

ith The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometers, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is i ...

deep set, blue eyes." "He taught class in a suit with the stiff color, the vest, and spats and street shoes. With all this, he could still do a double tour en l'air and land in a perfect fifth." "How describe those difficult steps performed with an ease which makes them appear elementary to the ordinary spectator, while the professional onlooker, swayed between astonishment and rapture, can scarce believe the evidence of his eyes."

Images on-line

''The Art of Stanislas Idzikowsky'' (London 1926) is a thin volume published in a limited edition of 350 copies, with six visual art works, twelve photographs, and five pages of text. Before the title page comes

Glyn Philpot Glyn Warren Philpot (5 October 188416 December 1937) was a British painter and sculptor, best known for his portraits of contemporary figures such as Siegfried Sassoon and Vladimir Rosing. Early life Philpot was born in Clapham, London, but ...

's monochrome portrait. The text by Cyril W. Beaumont then describes Idzikowski in various roles and as a presence in ballet. A sketch by Randolph Schwabe is of the dancer in costume, seated in his dressing room. Following are four color images of Idzikowski in ballet poses, reproductions of paintings by Vera Willoughby. Lastly, the twelve publicity photographs are of him in various costumes of his choreographed roles. A brief , low quality video of Idzikowski and Lydia Lopokova exists. The two were often paired. Here they are in costume as the Harlequin and Columbine in the ballet ''Le Carnaval''. Lopokova was married to

John Maynard Keynes John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes ( ; 5 June 1883 – 21 April 1946), was an English economist and philosopher whose ideas fundamentally changed the theory and practice of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments. Originall ...

, the English economist.See External Links: "Ballets Russes on film..." showing a very brief clip, at youtube.com.

References

Bibliography

Primary

* Cyril W. Beaumont, ''The Art of Stanislas Idzikowski'' (London: Beaumont Press, 1926). **

Lynn Garafola Lynn Theresa Garafola (born December 12, 1946) is an American dance historian, linguist, critic, curator, lecturer, and educator. A prominent researcher and writer with broad interests in the field of dance history, she is acknowledged as the lea ...

, "Idzikowski, Stanislas" in ''International Encyclopedia of Dance'', edited by Selma Jeanne Cohen, et al. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), at v.3, pp. 441–442. ** Horst Koegler, "Idzikowski, Stanislas" in ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Ballet'' (Oxford University Press, 1977), at p. 269. **Carmen Paris & Javier Bayo
"Idzikovsky, Stanislas (1894-1977)"
in MCNBiografías. Accessed 2018-4-6. **Obituary

in ''The New York Times'', February 16, 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2017. ;Co-author *Cyril W. Beaumont and Stanislas Idzikowski, ''A Manual of the Theory and Practice of Classical Theatrical Dancing (Cecchetti Method)'' (London: Beaumont Press 1922, rev. ed. 1932), Preface by Enrico Cecchetti. Reissued as ''The Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet: Theory and Technique'' (Mineola: Dover Publications 2003).

Secondary

*Nancy Van Norman Baer, ''Bronislava Nijinska. A dancer's legacy'' (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco 1986). *

, ''Balanchine's Complete stories of the great ballets'' (New York: Doubleday 1954). *

, ''Margot Fonteyn: Autobiography'' (New York: Knopf 1975, 1976), *

, ''Diaghilev's Ballets Russes'' (Oxford University 1989). *Lynn Garafola, ''Legacies of Twentieth Century Dance'' (Wesleyan University 2005). *Robert Grekovic, ''Ballet. A complete guide'' (London: Robert Hale 2000). *Jennifer Homans, ''Apollo's Angels. A history of ballet'' (New York: Random House 2010). * Boris Kochno, ''Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes'' (New York: Harper and Row 1970). *

, ''My Life in Ballet'' (London: Macmillan 1968). *

, ''Early Memoirs'' (New York: Holt Rinehart Winston 1982). *Richard Shead, ''Ballets Russes'' (Secaucus: Wellfleet Press 1989). * Lydia Sokolova, ''Dancing for Diaghilev. Memoirs'' (London: John Murray 1960, reprint San Francisco 1989), edited by Robert Buckle. **Kay Ambrose with

, ''The Ballet-Student's Primer'' (New York: Knopf 1954, 1974). **Gail Grant, ''Technical manual and dictionary of classical ballet'' (New York: Kamin Dance Pub. 1950, 3rd ed. Dover 1982). *Lynn Garafola and Nancy Van Norman Baer, editors, ''Ballets Russes and its World'' (Yale University Press 1999).

External links

''The Art of Stanislas Idzikowski"
(London: C. W. Beaumont 1926). Retrieved 2 April 2017.

obituary in ''The New York Times'', February 16, 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
"Stanislas Idzikowski (1894-1977)"
in ''Oxford Reference''. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
"Stanislas Idzikowsky"
at Cecchetti International Classical Ballet: Pioneers. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
"Stanislas Idzikowski, the forgotten dancer"
by David Adams. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
"Stanislas Idzikowski"
at IMDb. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
"Cyril Beaumont"
at Cecchetti International Classical Ballet: Pioneers. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
"Enrico Cecchetti"
at Cecchetti International Classical Ballet: About. Retrieved 26 July 2017.

obituary in ''The Independent'', 12 Oct. 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
"Ballet - Stanislas Idzikowski and Diaghilev's Ballet"
at Bonhams (2005). Retrieved 2 April 2017.
The Balanchine Catalogue
George Balanchine Foundation. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
"Ballets Russes on Film - Lydia Loupokova and Stanislas Idzikowski, ''Le Carnaval''"
JRH Films at YouTube.com. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
"Idzikowski as woodcarver"
JRH Films at YouTube.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019. {{DEFAULTSORT:Idzikowski, Stanislas 1894 births 1977 deaths Polish male ballet dancers Ballets Russes dancers Ballet masters Ballet teachers 20th-century Polish ballet dancers Emigrants from Congress Poland to the United Kingdom