Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program with autographs, 1951/1952

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated. (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program with autographs, C0553, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Abstract:
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program for the 1951-1952 season, with six pages featuring autographs from dancers.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program with autographs, C0553, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program for the 1951-1952 season directed by Sergei J. Denham, with six pages featuring autographs from dancers Alexandra Danilova, Frederic Franklin, Nina Novak, and Gerard Leavitt. Each dancer's signature appears on a page featuring their photographs, with Frederic Franklin's autograph appearing on three separate pages, including a double-page spread. Alexandra Danilva and Nina Novak's signature also appear on double-page spreads and Gerard Leavit's autograph includes an inscription reading "To Paul" above his signature. The program is otherwise free of annotations or markings.

Biographical / historical:

In 1932, René Blum and Colonel W. de Basil (also known as Wassily de Basil) founded the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo following the death of Sergei Dhivagilev and the dissolution of the original Ballets Russes. The Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo was the first major platform for choreographer-dancers like George Balanchine and Leonide Massine. In 1936, following a falling out between Blum and de Basil, the company split, with de Basil's portion becoming the Original Ballet Russe. Blum's portion was founded as Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and later changed its name to Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo (singular) with the appointment of Massine as artistic director in 1938. While originally intending to split its time between the United States and Europe, the outbreak of World War II forced the company to move to the United States in October 1939. For the next 20 years the company toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and South America, but would not perform again in Europe. The company was disbanded following its spring performances in 1962 due to a combination of artistic and union conflicts.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Schubertiade Music by Lynn Eaton in March 2025.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in April 2026. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in June 2026.

Arrangement:

This is a single item collection.

Physical location:
R 73, C 2, S 4
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard