George Balanchine, whose name was later synonymous with the New York
City Ballet, began his career with Les Ballets Russes. There were
several pictures as illustrations, and we were referred to a unique, and only
recently discovered, film of Les Ballets Russes in rehearsal.
The financial perils of running a
ballet company were not ignored. Diaghilev had been able to call on
friends and family connections for patronage; however that source was
not inexhaustible, and financial ruin was never far away. Diaghilev
himself lived sparingly in a hotel room; even so, when he died, his
friends had to club together to pay his bill.
After Diaghilev's death, Les Ballets
Russes had several subsequent incarnations, even at one time as two
different companies, run as rivals by Colonel de Basil (The Original
Ballets Russes) and René Blum (Les Ballets Russes de Montecarlo).
There were, of course, financial constraints, as well as the immense
problems of the Second World War. Colonel de Basil's company folded
in 1952, and Les Ballets Russes de Montecarlo went bankrupt in 1968.
Although Les Ballets Russes no longer
exist, their legacy lives on. Their influence on design,
choreography and style was immense, and has had lasting effects on
ballet today.
After a short demonstration of barre
exercise, Rachel answered questions, and there were many of those,
indicating just how much interest there had been in the subject.
There were many favourable comments as members left, the best one
being “Another triumph!”
Reviewer: Hilary HEADLEY
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| Rachel and Hilary pictured after the talk |