When discussing British ballet history there is often a focus on the early 20th century, the period when the Ballets Russes took London by storm and Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert founded ballet companies that would boost the popularity of the art. It is a period rich with cultural records, so it's not surprising … Continue reading Spotlight On: 18th Century Dancers in Britain
Theatre History
La Dame aux Camélias: The Ballets
French author Alexandre Dumas fils (1924-1895) enjoyed a career that spanned decades, publishing many successful books and plays. One of his most notable works is the 1848 novel La Dame aux Camélias. Inspired by his relationship with courtesan Marie Duplessis, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 23, Dumas fils created the characters of … Continue reading La Dame aux Camélias: The Ballets
Spotlight On: Beatrice Appleyard
In the late 1920s Ninette de Valois founded a School of Dancing in London. Her ultimate aim was to form a British Ballet company. Around the same time, de Valois was hired by Lilian Baylis, owner of the Old-Vic, to train her drama students in movement. Baylis also owned the Sadler's Wells Theatre, and despite … Continue reading Spotlight On: Beatrice Appleyard
20th February 1946: The Premiere of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
In the last months of the Second World War, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and Arts were discussing what to do with a London theatre that was currently in use as a dance hall. Led partially by John Maynard Keynes, negotiations took place for music publisher Boosey & Hawkes to become the theatre's … Continue reading 20th February 1946: The Premiere of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
The Ballerinas of the Empire’s Giselle, 1884
In December 1884 London's Empire Theatre premiered a new production of the classic ballet Giselle. The theatre had only opened in April that year, but, alongside some shorter divertissements, the theatre had already produced a production of the ballet Coppélia, the first production staged in London. Both of these ballets would be staged by the … Continue reading The Ballerinas of the Empire’s Giselle, 1884
The International Ballet: Tracing their Tours, 1942
Note: This is the second part of a series that aims to trace performances by the International Ballet. To read Part 1, which I very much recommend doing, click here. When we left off, the International Ballet were granted a Christmas holiday following 2 successful regional tours, and a successful London engagement. From May-December 1941 … Continue reading The International Ballet: Tracing their Tours, 1942
3 Long-Running Ballets at the Empire Theatre
Previously on the blog I've looked at long-running ballets at the Alhambra Theatre in London. The Alhambra was one of the greatest ballet-producing theatres in London during the late 19th and early 20th century. The other main theatre, was the Empire Theatre. Background The Empire Theatre opened in 1884, and began producing ballets in that … Continue reading 3 Long-Running Ballets at the Empire Theatre
The International Ballet: Tracing their tours, 1941
Mona Inglesby (1918-2006) began her ballet company during a world war, an incredible feat within itself. Her International Ballet brought the art to millions of people during its 12 year existence, and boasted a roster of remarkable dancers. Even so, their success as a company has been largely overshadowed by the other British companies that … Continue reading The International Ballet: Tracing their tours, 1941
Forgotten Ballets: A Tragedy of Fashion, 1926
Previously in my series on forgotten ballets I looked at a 1926 ballet by George Balanchine, one of the most influential ballet choreographers. Today I'd like to look at a 1926 ballet by another influential ballet choreographer, who did the same for ballet in Britain as Balanchine did in America. In 1926 Marie Rambert and … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: A Tragedy of Fashion, 1926
The Red Shoes, 1898
In 1948 Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger released the film The Red Shoes, in which Moira Shearer stars as Vicky Page. Page is a ballerina and during the film takes part in The Ballet of the Red Shoes. The movie was critically acclaimed, and was the basis for both a 1993 Broadway musical and a … Continue reading The Red Shoes, 1898
9 Long-Running Ballets at the Alhambra Theatre
Many of the names we associate with the early development of British ballet became well-known in the 1920s. Marie Rambert founded her first group, known as the Marie Rambert Dancers, in 1926, and Ninette de Valois formed the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1931. However, there was still strongholds of ballet in Britain before this period; Rambert … Continue reading 9 Long-Running Ballets at the Alhambra Theatre
Audience Reception: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Most of the time, when something is created, its creator hopes it will be well received. A common trope in media features creators spiralling downwards after their work receives negative reception. On the other hand, it's also common in media for works to receive rapturous applause, and a standing ovation. These tropes are on extreme … Continue reading Audience Reception: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Forgotten Ballets: Le Sicilien, ou l’Amour peintre
Playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière, is renowned as one of the greatest writers of all time. He is best known as a playwright, but he also dabbled in writing comédie-ballets, a genre of plays that also contain music and dance. The most remembered comédie-ballet is 1670's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, produced in collaboration with … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Le Sicilien, ou l’Amour peintre
Spotlight On: Pauline Montessu
On the blog I've previously discussed the lives of some of the lesser-known dancers of the Ballet Russes, and I enjoyed looking into the lives of these dancers and learning more about them. This time, I'd like to look at a similar topic, but with a dancer from the ranks of the 19th-century Paris Opera … Continue reading Spotlight On: Pauline Montessu
The Mystery of the Ballets Minerva
Sometimes, when buying theatre programmes, I take advantage of offers by buying things I am either not as interested in, or have less knowledge of. One of these was a ballet programme from a company called the Ballets Minerva. I was so intrigued by this I included the programme in my purchase. 'How weird?' I … Continue reading The Mystery of the Ballets Minerva
Forgotten Ballets: Tally-Ho, or The Frail Quarry, 1944
Among my collection I have several programmes from the Ballet Theatre's (now American Ballet Theatre) 1946 tour to England. The company performed at the Royal Opera House in the Summer of 1946, one of the first tours to England by a company following World War II. The ballets featured on the programmes I have are … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: Tally-Ho, or The Frail Quarry, 1944
Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
In the early 20th century, before the age of Ballet Rambert and the Vic-Wells Ballet, British ballet was mostly based at two London theatres: the Empire and the Alhambra. These theatres were music halls primarily, but a large portion of an evening's programme would be dedicated to ballet, and both theatres employed a full corps … Continue reading Forgotten Ballets: The Dance Dream, 1911
The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
On the 3rd September 1939, the United Kingdom and France officially declared war on Nazi Germany. Two days earlier, Nazi Germany had invaded Poland. This would begin the start of the Second World War, the deadliest military conflict in history. 900 miles away from Warsaw, a ballet company was disembarking from a train, which had … Continue reading The Sadler’s Wells Ballet and the Phoney War
Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
The Ballet Russes became a sensation in the 1910s. Their first Paris season of 1909 led to further seasons in the city, along with engagements in London, Monte Carlo, and further beyond. Under the leadership of Serge Diaghilev top artists came together to produce some of the most interesting ballets of all time. Some of … Continue reading Three Forgotten Dancers of the Ballet Russes
A Homage to the Queen
In 1953, the British Empire was preparing for the coronation of their new Queen, Elizabeth II. And the Royal Ballet was no different. Frederick Ashton's ballet Homage to the Queen united the top dancers of the company in a marvellous pièce d'occasion. The ballet premiered on the 2nd June 1953, the same day as Elizabeth … Continue reading A Homage to the Queen
Madeleine's Stage 