THE RUSSIAN BALLET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 52, 17 March 1937, Page 15

THE RUSSIAN BALLET

UO WONDBBrOI. DAH0EE8. Oolonel de Baail's famous Monte Carlo Eussian Ballet, which numbers 110 wonderful dancers, and which is: to appear here in their greatest production under the direction of J. C. Williamson Ltd. on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and on Wednesday afternoon, created a sensation m the principal cities of Australia and in Sydney and Melbourne the seasons had to be considerably extended. The reception accorded the Eussian dancers on their initial appearance in New Zealand. will always be remembered. Nothing like the enthusiasm which was created by the magnificence of the dancing has ever previously been known to happen in a New Zealand theatre. There had been a xeeord number of seats booked before the company made its first appearance, and after that event the following morning the box plans were again rushed, and practieally the whole of the theatre was

——— i — fljwjiiaw— mimi gniimi !■ ii mim— bmakaca booked out for the remainder of the season there. "Never in the history of the Australian theatre," write.a critie, "had Melbourne seen such a gala audience as that which greeted the first performance of the Eussian Ballet at His Majesty's Theatre on daturday uignt. This eagerly anticipated event brought balletomanes in Melbourne crowding to the theatr© and traffio in the Itreets was jammed with hundreds oi cars carrying smartly-dressed people to the theatre. The dancing was wonderful, the drdSSes and effeet magnificont and altogether it was a great and momorable occasion.,' It is most enterprising of J. C. Williamson Ltd. to bring the entire Eussian Ballet to Our Iocal theatre, as the expense to do sO must be enormous, 'and it is to be hoped that theatregoers and lovers of dancing will regard the occasion of their visit as the most important theatrical event which has ever happened hero. The opening Ballets to be staged are those in which the company begun its Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand seasons, and in which the dancers achieved their best successos in London and on the Continent. The grand opera orchestra of 25 imported players is under the direction of the brilliant conductor, Joscha Horenstein. There will be a complete change of ballets on Wednesday. The box plans will be opened at Eail's on Friday morning next at 9 o"cl©ck» A queue will be formed frem 8 a.m.