The Original Ballet Russe (originally named Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo) was a ballet company established in 1931 by René Blum and Colonel Wassily de Basil 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 Revolution disrupted society. A ...

, founded in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev. 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 Sergei Diaghilev. The last season of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes was 1929, during which it toured and performed in both London, England, and Paris, France. During the final season, it produced the new ballets ''

The Prodigal Son The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a parable of Jesus from 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 b ...

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

Covent Garden Theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...

on July 26, 1929. Diaghliev died of complications from diabetes a month later, on August 19, 1929. In 1931, with the help from financier Serge Denham, René Blum and Colonel Wassily de Basil 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 ty ...

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; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...

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'', whi ...

and sets by

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

. Featured dancers included David Lichine (who soon began choreographing ballets for the company), and the "

baby ballerinas Baby ballerinas is a term invented by the English writer and dance critic Arnold Haskell to describe three young dancers of the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo in the early 1930s: Irina Baronova (1919–2008), Tamara Toumanova (1919–1996), ...

" Irina Baronova, Tamara Toumanova, and

Tatiana Riabouchinska Tatiana Mikhailovna Riabouchinska (russian: Татья́на Миха́йловна Рябуши́нская, 23 May 191724 August 2000) was a Russian American prima ballerina and teacher. Famous at age 14 as one of the three " Baby Balleri ...

. The company conductor was Efrem Kurtz, who stayed until 1942, touring with them extensively, and the librettist was

Boris Kochno Boris Evgenievich Kochno or Kokhno (russian: Бори́с Евге́ньевич Кохно́; 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 fa ...

. The company gave its first performance in Monte Carlo 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 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 (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

, and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Sol Hurok, an American, took over the management of the Ballet Russe and brought the company to the United States.

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 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 si ...

Russian Ballet'' and bringing on Michel Fokine as resident choreographer. Sol Hurok 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 stop or 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 dropped off. In this way, st ...

" 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 Mona Inglesby (3 May 1918 – 6 October 2006), was a British ballet dancer, choreographer, director of the touring company International Ballet, and the person who saved the Sergeyev Collection for posterity. Early life and training Mona Ing ...

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 Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, visiting Australia in 1936–37, 1938–39, and 1939–40.Amanda
"Ballets Russes"
'' The Age'' (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 Australia's leading artists of the 20th century. Working in a wide variety of mediums, 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.. 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 ev ...

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

Havana, Cuba Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, in 1941. 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 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, David Lichine 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. ...

, 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 Ballet 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 (russian: Леони́д Фёдорович Мя́син), 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 wo ...

's ''Jeux d'enfants'' **Boris Romanoff's ''Chout'' (''Le Bouffon'') ''Pulcinella'', and ''L'Amour Sorcier'' ** Lev Ivanov's ''Le Lac des Cygnes'' (''

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

''), act II ** Michel Fokine's ''Petrouchka, Les Sylphides,'' and ''The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor'' * 1933 ** David Lichine's ''Nocturne'' (set to the music of Rameau) **

's ''Les Présages'' (set to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5), ''Le Beau Danube, Beach, Scuola di Ballo,'' and ''Les Matelots'' ** 14 September — Michel Fokine's ''

Carnaval Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

'' (set to

Robert Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...

's ''

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

Brahm's Fourth Symphony The Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 by Johannes Brahms is the last of his symphonies. Brahms began working on the piece in Mürzzuschlag, then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1884, just a year after completing his Symphony No. 3. It was prem ...

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

, London, UK ** Vaslav Nijinsky'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'' ** David Lichine's ''Les Imaginaires'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Bolero'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Variations'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Étude'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Les Comediens Jaloux'' **

Marius Petipa Marius Ivanovich Petipa (russian: Мариус Иванович Петипа), born Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa (11 March 1818), was a French ballet dancer, pedagogue and choreographer. Petipa is one of the most influential ballet masters an ...

's ''Le Marriage d'Aurore'' (arranged by Nijinska) ** Michel Fokine'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'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Les Cent Baisers'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Schéhérazade, Thamar,'' and ''Le Spectre de la Rose'' * 1936 ** David Lichine'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 com ...

), 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 Fa ...

'', Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Australia ** Leon Woizikovsky's ''L'Amour Sorcier'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Cimarosiana'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Cléopâtre'' and ''Papillons'' ** Bronislava Nijinska'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'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Carnaval'' ** Léonide Massine's ''Les Contes Russes'' **

's ''Cotillon'' ** Michel Fokine's ''L'Oiseau de Feu'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Les Cent Baisers'' ** Leon Woitzikowsky's ''L'Amour Sorcier'' ** Vaslav Nijinsky'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'' ** Lev Ivanov's ''Swan Lake,'' Act II ** Michel Fokine's ''Les Sylphides'' ** Michel Fokine's ''Thamar'' * 1937 ** 11 January — Michel Fokine'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 Николай Андреевичъ Римскій-Корсаковъ. la, Nicolaus Andreae filius Rimskij-Korsakov. The composer romanized his name as ''Nicolas Rimsk ...

) ** David Lichine'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 ** Michel Fokine's ''Paganini'' *1940 ** Serge Lifar's ''Le Danube bleu'' *1940 Australia tour ** David Lichine's '' Graduation Ball'' (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 (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

), Melbourne **

Igor Schwezoff Igor may refer to: People * Igor (given name), an East Slavic given name and a list of people with the name * Mighty Igor (1931–2002), former American professional wrestler * Igor Volkoff, a professional wrestler from NWA All-Star Wrestling ...

's ''La Lutte eternelle'', Sydney ** Mikhail Obukhov (after Petipa, Saint-Leon)'s '' Coppélia'', Sydney **

Nina Verchinina Nina may refer to: * Nina (name), a feminine given name and surname Acronyms *National Iraqi News Agency, a news service in Iraq *Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, on the campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology *No income, n ...

's ''Etude (The Quest)'' ** Serge Lifar's ''Icare'' and ''Pavane (Las Meninas)'' *1941 Havana tour **

Michael 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 ...

's '' Les Sylphides'', ''Le Coq d'or'', ''Paganini'', ''Prince Igor'', ''

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

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

's ''Le Marriage d’Aurore'' **

's ''Cotillon'' and ''Balustrade'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Les Cent Baisers'' *1942 **

Vania Psota Vania may refer to: * Vania (caste), a social group of India * ''Vania'' (foram), a genus of fossil foraminifers * ''Vania'' (plant), a genus of plants in the family Brassicaceae * Vânia, or Vania, a given name (including a list of people with t ...

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 — David Lichine's ''Cain and Abel'', Mexico City ** John Taras' ''Camille'' ** William Dollar's ''Constantia'' **

Anton Dolin Anton Dolin may refer to: * Anton Dolin (ballet dancer) Sir Anton Dolin (27 July 190425 November 1983) was an English ballet dancer and choreographer. Biography Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey ...

's ''Giselle'' (after Coralli) and ''Pas de Quatre'' **Antonia Cobos' ''Mute Wife'' **Edward Caton's ''Sebastian'' **

's ''Yara'' * 1947 ** Jerome Robbins' ''Pas de Trois'' ** Bronislava Nijinska's ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' **spring — ''

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

'', Metropolitan Opera House, New York Martin, John
"Rosella Hightower Scores in Giselle Role, Replacing Markova, as Ballet Russe Opens"
'' The New York Times'', March 21, 1947. Accessed November 5, 2008. ** spring — ''

'', Metropolitan Opera House, New York **Boris Kniasev's ''Piccoli'' and ''The Silver Birch'' ** summer — David Lichine's '' Graduation Ball'', 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. .