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1909
The ballet Russes was a ballet company established in 1909 by the Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev. On May 19 , 1909 the Paris Premiere season of Diaghilev's. Ballet Russes at Theatre de Chatelet. -
1910
The company returned in 1910 ; in 1911 it was presented under Diaghielv's Ballet Russes and made its debt in London. -
Ballet Russes take over
The company now consisted of works by the great choreographers Marius Petpia , Michel Fokine , Bronislava Nijinska , Leonide Massine , and young George Balanchine. -
1914
In 1914 , Leonide Massine joined Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. On April 16th was the premier of the one act ballet , Papillons , choreographed by Fokine. -
Voyage
On May 6th , they set sail back to Europe on the Dante Alighieri ship , loaded with a cargo of ammunition , horses , and the Diaghilev Ballets Russes dancers. World war one was in full swing , and the main threat to their well-being while sailing home was from German submarines lurking odd the Spanish coast. -
Second Tour
On September 8 , 1916 Diaghilevs Ballet Russes set back sail to America for a second tour. Diaghilev and Grigoriev remained in Rome. -
Coming to America
Diaghilev's Ballet Russes came to America in 1916. That was the only tour that Diaghilev's Ballet Russes ever danced as a company in the united states. their first performance was held in New York. They open January 17 with"The Firebird." The Americans had never witnessed a Russian Ballet before , until that day. -
The Final Season
The final season for Diaghielv's Ballet Russes was in 1929. The Ballet Russes performed in London and in Paris that year. On July 26th , 1929 , Diaghilev's Ballet Russes gave its final performance at Covent Garden Theatre in London. -
1929
In 1929 Diaghilev sadly died in Venice , Italy on August 19th , 1929 , and is buried on the nearby island of San Michele in the San Michele Cemetery. -
After Diaghilev's Death
After Diaghilev's death the company's property was claimed by its creditors. the dancers were scattered. Colonel Wassily de basil ad his associate Rene Blum revived the company but Col . de Basil and Rene Blum constantly argued , so Blum founded a new company named the original Ballet Russe. the original Ballet Russe toured mostly in Europe. During World war two the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo toured in the United states , giving Americans a strong sense of what was known as "Russian Ballet." -
Turn For The Worst
Dancer began leaving in search for better opportunities , so Basil hired new dancers , not as qualified or technically experienced , leaving the company in bad shape. In November of 1948 the company had its last performance. -
American Ballet
Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo took a chance and decided to hire an American choreographer , Agnes de Mille. From that point on the beginning of "true American Ballet" formed.
