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The death of Diaghilev
Diaghilev died in Venice, Italy and is buried on the nearby island of San Michele in the San Michele Cemetery. -
1931 Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, ballet company founded in Monte-Carlo in 1932. Balanchine has an idea to make very young dancers the stars of the ballet. At 12-13 years old, and each having a different style from one another, they became known as the “baby ballerinas.” The baby balerinas names were Tamara Toumanova who was described as dramatic, Tania Riabouchinska who was described as feather light, with lots of personality and Irina Boranova who was described as Girlish, passionate, flirty. -
goodbye Balanchine
After the first season, Basil and Blum secretly push out Balanchine and replaced him with Leonide Massine. -
eye to eye
They began to hire American dancers, but made their names sound Russian. (i.e. Marc Plattoff)
- Blum and Basil did not see eye to eye and Blum resigned from the company. After Blum left Basils ego became to much for Massine and he left to create his own dance company. -
Ballet wars
A war erupted between Massine and Basil over everything connected to the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo, including legal fights over the company name and choreography. Massine won the rights to the company name, Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo so Basil renamed his company The Original Ballet Russe. The each fought over dancers, making dancers take the side of one or the other. -
Ready for big debut
In London each company was ready to make their debut. But Massine has lost all the rights to his choreography and found himself having to create 3 new enormous ballets. Basil’s problem was replacing Massine as principle choreographer, so he hired David Lichine. Lichine and Massine became rivals, trying to steal dancers from the other. -
World War ll
War was declared. Britain and France declare war on Germany in World War II. Panic struck and most Russians did not have the right papers to leave the country. They were able to get on a boat headed to American. Both companies traveled on this boat. -
One of the most difficult people to work with
Hurok severed his ties with Basil, publically declaring him as one of the most difficult people to work with. Because Sol Hurok had such connections around America, Basil and The Original Ballet Russe found themselves without work. Not being able to return to London yet, Basil took his company on a Latin American tour. -
The return
In 1944 Ballet crossed over into Broadway, choreographed by George Balachine. -
Agnes de Mille
Ballet Russes de Monte-Carlo took a chance and hired and American choreographer, Agnes de Mille. And so began the beginning of “true American ballet.”
-Agnes de Mille choreographed “Rodeo,” a good old fashion American tradition. -
The original Ballet Russes durring the war
Finally Hurok and Basil to arranged for the company to return to America. Yet, the company was not ready for touring again. Hurok once again abandoned the company and the dancers begin to leave for better opportunities. In return, Basil hired new dancers, not as qualified or technically proficient, leaving the company in worse shape. Nov 1948 was the company’s last performance. -
Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo's time durring the war
Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo has a very different experience during the war-time years. They were the toast of the town in Hollywood glamour. They crossed over into dance for film. However, Massine loving the money and attention seemed to lose his choreographic touch and started producing flops.
