RUSSIAN BALLET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 56, 22 March 1937, Page 12

RUSSIAN BALLET

Hastings Season Opens To-morrow A festival of dancing, music and spectacle sums up Colonel de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, which is to be presented by J. O. Williamson Limited, at the Municipal Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and on ■ 'ednesday afternoon — undoubtedly the most ambitious theatrical enterprise ever taken by the firm. Tho fascination exercised by the Ballet in London, New Xork a,nd on the Continent, has increased year by year. The performances have now becoone of universal interest. This widespread appreoiaticm is due to the fact that the Ballet eanbraces all the arts — the beauty of motion, superb colour, music and all the imagery it conjureg up in the mind, and not the least, the grace of beauty of youth. Aucklanders were enchanted by Helen Kirsova. She is slim and tiny and vivacious — a streak of Continental temperament with her wide blue eyes, piquant face, and unruly long fair bobbed hair. She is 23, looks no more than 16, and has danced her way half round the world and back again. She is Danish by birth, speaks five languages, with her English slightly flavour ed with an American accent. Although she began her dancing career only seven years ago, she has visited America and South America, as well as appearing in countries all over Europe. She is the chief ballerina of the company. Leon Woizikowsky is one of the most ontstanding male dancers in the world to-day. He is Russian by birth, and dances classical roles. In addition to his amazing gift as a dancer, M, Woizikowsky possess-s a remarkable memory which in conjunction with his impeccable sense of music makeg him pre-eminent as a maitre de ballet. Valentina Blinova, with her exquisite satin-smooth brown hair and ho-ney-gold eyes, is Russian by birth, and dances classical roles. Nina Raievska, the l'oremost character dancer of the company, is a Russian gypsey. Sh© has a touch of tlie fire of Tartary — a blending of Cossack blood that endows her with boundless energy. "All my life," she told a reporter, "I have danced, and I cannot imagine life without it." Another interesting Russian Dorn meraber of tlie organisation is Valentin Froman, a handsome young man who was bo-rn at Moscow, and trained there at I the Imperial Theatre. Mr Froman danced with Pavlova in Paris and is prouj of the memory. A feature of the performance is the work of the grand operatic orchestra of 25 imported players. There will be a complete chango of ballets on Wednesday. i The box plans ar© now open Fail's. |