Nijinsky Benefit Proceeds Went Wrong Way

Chronicle (Levin), 30 November 1949, Page 5

Nijinsky Benefit Proceeds Went Wrong Way

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 28. When the famous Russian ballet j dancer Nijinsky, who has been living m | retirement in Britain since illness put and end to his career, was handed a cheqtie for £132 as the proceeds of three beneiit performanees given for him in London last week, he said he would not aecept it, and gave it to the J Sadler's Wells benevolent fund. j The promoters of the beneiit took ' the huge Empress Hall for the perforniances and engaged a number of , internationaL^ballet stars, some of . whom were paid as nruch as £450 for j their appearances. The result of this j heavy outlay was that only £132 remained for Nijinsky. Madame Nijinsgy said: "Although we badly need the money. we decided not to accept this cheque. They were supposd to be beneiit performanees, but they dok't appear to have beeii Organised in that way at all. Whoever heard of dancers being paid for their serviees at such performanees?" The British-born ballet star Anton Holin^ who refused to take part in the performanees has offered to organise ' another beneiit for Nijinsky next year, when all the performers will give tlieir serviees free. "1 am very glad to heai that. Nijinsky refused to accept £132, " h6 Said. "It Was an insult to otfer it i to him. ' ' j