Guide to the Guide to theatre programs and ephemera regarding Kirsova Ballet

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Kirsova

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Title
Programs and ephemera regarding Kirsova Ballet in Australia
Date Range
1941 - 1944
Collection Number
Kirsova
Extent
34 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Printed Collections

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The list is primarily based on material in the National Library of Australia's PROMPT collection. Where there are gaps in the PROMPT holdings, the list has been supplemented by an indication of material in the National Gallery of Australia's Research Library. The Research Library holds Helene Kirsova's extensive personal archive including stage and costume designs, photographs and letters as well as published materials. In a couple of rare cases where no programs are held in either institution, newspaper clippings in the NGA Kirsova Archive have been quoted as evidence of performances.

The PROMPT collection also contains programs for part of Kirsova's career in Europe prior to her Australian visit, and programs for all the Australian tours of the de Basil companies in 1936, 1938 and 1940.

Preferred Citation

Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.

Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.

Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). & Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert & Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]

The National Library [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/] and Trove [https://trove.nla.gov.au/] hold collections with other material relating to Kirsova Ballet including books, Oral history recordings and interviews, pictures and items in Australian newspapers.

Arrangement

The Kirsova Ballet programs are listed in chronological order, which reflects the arrangement of the Library's PROMPT collection.

Entries identify the city and the venue. All the information is taken from programs, flyers and ephemera. Entries for each program are arranged as follows: City; name of production or performer; date (day and month); details of publication.

Holdings are noted for NLA (National Library of Australia, PROMPT collection) and NGARL (National Gallery of Australia Research Library).

Biographical / Historical

Helene Kirsova came to Australia in 1936 with the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet.

Born Ellen Wittrup in Denmark, she had trained with Europe's leading ballet teachers and had reached prima ballerina status dancing with major European companies and working with choreographers such as Leonide Massine and Michel Fokine.

Kirsova received star billing for the 1936 Australian tour which was entrepreneured by Colonel W. de Basil. De Basil brought more companies to Australia in 1938 and 1940 which further opened up a world of exotic and dazzling ballet to Australian audiences.

The advent of these 'Ballets Russes' companies also had a lasting legacy in the form of members of the companies who elected to stay in Australia. Two of the most prominent of these were Edouard Borovansky and Helene Kirsova both of whom formed companies of their own which had lasting influences on the development of ballet in Australia.

Kirsova initially returned to England with the Monte Carlo Russian ballet in 1937 but returned early in 1938 when she married the Danish Vice Consul in Sydney, Erik Fischer. She soon established a ballet school developing local Australian dancers as well as engaging other dancers from the de Basil companies who remained in Australia.

She formed her own company in 1941. Based in Sydney, the company also successfully toured Australia in spite of the difficulties of movement around the country in wartime, as well as the constant threat of male dancers being enlisted into wartime duty. After a short life span of three years the company was disbanded in 1944 following its Brisbane season.

Kirsova went to Europe in 1947 with her second husband the Australian journalist Peter Bellew and lived in Paris. She died on the 22nd February 1962 while visiting London.

For a full list of dancers and alphabetical repertoire please see supplementary material.

Item Descriptions

Series. Kirsova Ballet seasons, 8 July 1941 - 11 December 1944

34 items

Conservatorium (Sydney, New South Wales); Title page: "Red Cross Ballet Season presented by Helene Kirsova… Gala opening performance July 8 1941", 8 July 1941 (Item)

5 performances. Ballet productions. Book: 32 p, wrappers. Includes photographic portraits of Helen Kirsova, principal dancers and designer Loudon Sainthill; photos of rehearsals; four pages of colour designs by Sainthill; program of ballets.

[Location unknown]; Ballet season for Red Cross…presented by Helene Kirsova, 1941 (Item)

Repertoire: Dream...and a fairy tale, Les Matelots,Vieux Paris

The Everglades, Blue Mountains (Sydney, New South Wales); Souvenir of Everglades Garden Fete…. "Proceeds in aid of War Veteran's Home at Narrabeen and King George's Fund for Sailors.", 4 October 1941 - 6 October 1941 (Item)

Title page: "Ballet productions presented by Helene Kirsova." Repertoire: Les Sylphides, Vieux Paris. Program: 12 p. Wrappers held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm]. Includes advertisement for "The Helene Kirsova School of Russian Ballet-Diaghilev Tradition", with two pages of photos of company principals.

Minerva Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales); The Kirsova Ballet Souvenir, 22 November 1941 (Item)

Book: 32 p. Wrappers. Title page: "Madame Helene Kirsova and Whitehall Productions present The Kirsova Ballet, Minerva Theatre, Sydney, Season 1941-1942". Content is substantially the same as the book above with photos, portraits designs etc. Program of ballets differs.

Minerva Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales); Les Sylphides, Faust, 22 November 1941 (Item)

Program, 2 copies.

Minerva Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales); Les Matelots, Faust, 22 November 1941 (Item)

Minerva Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales); Les Sylphides, Les Matelots, Vieux Paris, 22 November 1941 (Item)

Program, 16 p. (undated). Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm]. The contents for all the programs for this season of the Kirsova Ballet are identical. Photo portraits of the company are the same and page nine in each program is an uncredited essay titled "A permanent Australian ballet". However, changes in the Repertoire and in the cover illustrations have been noted.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); JC Williamson Magazine Program, 31 January 1942 (Item)

Repertoire: A dream… and a fairy tale, Faust. Program, 34 p. Wrappers. 2 copies: cover illustration of seated woman in yellow evening gown.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Les Sylphides, Faust, 31 January 1942 (Item)

Program, 34 p. wrappers. Cover illustration of seated woman in yellow evening gown.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Repertoire: A dream… and a fairy tale, Faust, 31 January 1942 (Item)

Program, 34 p. Program as above with same repertoire but cover illustration is a drawing of a ballet dancer signed "Constable".

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Les Sylphides, Les Matelots, L'Oiseau bleue, Ritual fire dance, Vieux Paris, 31 January 1942 (Item)

Program, 34 p., wrappers. Cover illustration of seated woman in yellow evening gown.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Les Sylphides, Les Matelots, L'Oiseau bleue, Ritual fire dance, Vieux Paris, 31 January 1942 (Item)

Program as above with same repertoire but cover illustration is a drawing of a ballet dancer signed by "Constable". 34 p.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Dream …and a fairy tale, Faust, 11 February 1942 (Item)

Change of cast slip.

His Majesty's Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria); Les Matelots, Blue Bird, Vieux Paris, 20 February 1942 (Item)

Changes to cast slip.

Conservatorium Sydney, New South Wales; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 9 February 1943 (Item)

Kirsova Ballet Season in aid of the Legacy War Orphans Appeal. Program: 4 p.

Conservatorium Sydney, New South Wales; Revolution of the Umbrellas, Hansel and Gretel, 15 March 1943 (Item)

Program, 4 p. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm]. Season details verified in Pask.

Conservatorium Sydney, New South Wales; Lac des cygnes, Jeunesse, Hansel and Gretel, Capriccio, 18 September 1943 (Item)

Program. 4 p. Cover title: "Kirsova Ballet Season presented by Helene Kirsova to provide at Erskineville the first of a series of fully equipped children's playgrounds to be established by the Kirsova Ballet throughout the congested areas of Sydney".

Conservatorium Sydney, New South Wales; Lac des cygnes, Capriccio, Harlequin, Vieux Paris, 17 December 1943 (Item)

Program, 4 p., 2 copies. Cover: "Proceeds from this season will be used to continue the work of establishing a series of fully equipped playgrounds throughout the congested areas of Sydney. The full proceeds from the September season amounting to pounds 1,678, were sufficient to provide two grounds at Erskineville, and these are now under construction. Proceeds from this season, it is hoped, will be sufficient to complete the requirements in Erskineville a also to extend the scheme to another municipality lacking proper playing facilities."

Conservatorium Sydney, New South Wales; Les Sylphides, Harlequin, Hansel and Gretel, Capriccio, 17 December 1943 (Item)

Program, 4 p. Cover: "Proceeds from this season will be used to continue the work of establishing a series of fully equipped playgrounds throughout the congested areas of Sydney. The full proceeds from the September season amounting to pounds 1,678, were sufficient to provide two grounds at Erskineville, and these are now under construction. Proceeds from this season, it is hoped, will be sufficient to complete the requirements in Erskineville a also to extend the scheme to another municipality lacking proper playing facilities." . Wrappers held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Melbourne, Victoria; Lac des cygnes, Jeunesse, Harlequin, Vieux Paris, 15 January 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out.

His Majesty's Theatre Melbourne, Victoria; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 22 January 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out.

His Majesty's Theatre Melbourne, Victoria; Lac des cygnes, Harlequin, Hansel and Gretel, Capriccio, 29 January 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out . Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm]. "Program for final week commencing Saturday January 29".

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, South Australia; Les Sylphides, Hansel and Gretel, Harlequin, Vieux Paris, 7 February 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out. 2 copies.

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, South Australia; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 7 February 1944 - 12 February 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out . Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, South Australia; Lac des cygnes, Capriccio, Jeunesse, Vieux Paris, 14 February 1944 - 19 February 1944 (Item)

Program, 3 p., fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

Theatre Royal. Adelaide, South Australia; Lac des cygnes, Capriccio, Jeunesse, Vieux Paris, 26 February 1944 (Item)

Program. 3 p. fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland, 8 April 1944 (Item)

Programs for the first two weeks of season are not held in either NLA or NGARL. News, clippings held by NGARL list the repertoire on 8 April 1944 as Swan Lake, Harlequin, Hansel and Gretel, Vieux Paris; 15 April 1944 lists the repertoire as Revolution of the Umbrellas, Les Sylphides. See: National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland; Lac des cygnes, Jeunesse, Capriccio, Hansel and Gretel, 22 April 1944 - 28 April 1944 (Item)

Program, 4 p., fold out. "Program for the Third week commencing…April 22…".

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 22 April 1944 - 28 April 1944 (Item)

Program, 4 p., fold out. "Program for…week commencing April 29". Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 29 April 1944 (Item)

Program, 4 p., fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland; Les Sylphides, Revolution of the Umbrellas, 1 May 1944 - 2 May 1944 (Item)

Program, 4 page fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

His Majesty's Theatre Brisbane, Queensland; Lac des cygnes, Hansel and Gretel, Harlequin, Vieux Paris, 3 May 1944 - 6 May 1944 (Item)

Program, 4 page fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

[Maccabean Hall, Sydney, New South Wales]; Kirsova Ballet School pupil's recital, 11 December 1944 (Item)

Repertoire: Ten items danced by pupils and six items danced by members of the Kirsova Company. Program, 4 p. fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].

[Undated; no venue or place]; Cover title: "Ballet productions presented by Helene Kirsova" (Item)

Repertoire: A dream…and a fairy tale, Les Matelots, Vieux Paris. Back page has advertisement for "The Helene Kirsova School of Russian Ballet-Diaghiliev Tradition". Program, 4 p., fold out. Held National Gallery of Australia Research Library [https://nga.gov.au/research/library.cfm].


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