Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo

  • Death of Diaghilev

    Death of Diaghilev
    Diaghilev dies in 1929, leaving his dancers without work.
  • Resurrection

    1931 is when the resurrection began. Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum named their new company Ballet Rusee de Monte-Carlo.
  • George Balanchine

    George Balanchine
    George, a former choreographer for Diaghilev's Ballet Russe, became the Dance Master and principle choreographer.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.”
  • Baby Dancers First Performance

    Baby Dancers First Performance
    After Tamara Toumanova, Tania Riabouchinska, Irina Boranova had their first performance in 1932 critics said "Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo was the authentic air to Diaghilev's Ballet Russe.
  • Massine Era

    1933 started the Massine Era of ballet at the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo (in London). Massine introduced the symphonic orchestra to ballet and the oublic loved it. He started creating stronger lead roles for male dancers.
  • Adolf Hitler

    Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
  • Period: to

    Ballet Russe Coming to America

    -In 1934 Ballet Russse de Monte-Carlo set sails for America where Sol Hurok (an impresario) booked their first American Tour. Sol Hurok was the most powerful theatrical promoter in the States. (it had been 20 years since Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe sailed to America, and America still didn’t know much about ballet.) by 1935 they had performed for 3 million people.
  • Final

    Final de Basil Ballets Russes season in Monte Carlo
  • Massine

    Massine
    In 1938 (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.
  • Massine

    Both companies started their season in London, performing blocks from each other. The public love each company, go from one show to another. Yet, Sol Hurok needed another American tour. Hurok chose Massine’s Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. At the same time Basil took his company to Australia. For 7 months the filled the theaters. Australia loved ballet. The set the stage for new training facilities to be opened in this part of the world. By 1939 both companies were back in London.
  • War began

    September 3, 1939 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. Months of no rehearsals or ballet class and Massine has Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo perform the evening they arrived in America.
  • Hurok

    In 1941 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.