Ballets Russes

The Russian Revolution of 1917 caused Diaghilev to sever his links with Russia, and the company continued under constant financial difficulty. Foreign dancers under Russian names began to dance with the company. A new choreographer, Russian Léonide Massine, produced highly popular works which relied on strong character dancing for their full effect, including Parade (1917) (see Les Six) and, in 1919, La Boutique fantasque and Le Tricorne (The Three Cornered Hat). In London, Diaghilev made an influential return to classicism with his 1921 production of the classic The Sleeping Beauty, renamed The Sleeping Princess.

Diaghilev turned to Russian choreographer Bronislava Nijinska to create witty and fashionable ballets, such as Les Noces (1923), with music by Stravinsky, and Le Train bleu, Les Fâchaux and Les Biches (1924), ballets composed for Diaghilev by members of "Les Six" - Milhaud, Auric and Poulenc. George Balanchine wrote his signature pieces, the neoclassical Apollon Musagète (1928) and Le fils prodigue (1929).

The company toured Europe and North and South America, finally establishing a base from 1922 to 1929 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ballets Russes' last new production before Diaghilev's sudden death in 1929 was The Prodigal Son (right), with music by Prokofiev and choreography by Balanchine.

After Diaghilev's death, the company disbanded. The dispersion of former members of the Ballets Russes enriched ballet schools throughout the world. George Balanchine emigrated to the United States, founding New York City Ballet; Ninette de Valois, Anton Dolin, and Alicia Markova went on to dance in London; Marie Rambert formed what is now known as Rambert Dance Company; and Sergei Lifar became director of the Paris Opéra Ballet.

Main picture: Original design by Marie Laurencin for Les Biches