Diaghilev’s Women: Four Women of influence in a man’s world

Ballet

Dance

Day course

Two Day Course

Bridgett Vane

5 April 2023 to 6 April 2023

9:00 am to 4:30 pm

£80 One Day, £160 Both Days

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Description

Day One: Diaghilev’s Women: Tamara Karsavina and Bronislava Nijinska. Wednesday 5th April 2023
Tamara Karsavina was beloved by all. A product of Russia’s Imperial Ballet, she danced with Nijinsky in Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes; as part of his inner circle, she created iconic roles in The Firebird and Petrushka. Karsavina fled the Revolution to settle in London, later coaching Margot Fonteyn in The Firebird.
Ballerina/choreographer Bronislava Ninjinska was another product of the Imperial Ballet and sister of the great Nijinsky; she created her masterpiece Les Noces for the Ballets Russes. Perhaps under-appreciated in her lifetime, her fascinating life and career is now being reassessed.

Day Two: Diaghilev’s Women: Natalia Goncharova and Misia Sert.  Thursday 6th April 2023
When Alexander Benois suggested Natalia Goncharova to Diaghilev as designer of Le Coq d’Or, she was already a rising star within Moscow’s avant-garde, with acclaimed exhibitions to her name. Soon promoted to Diaghilev’s inner circle, her designs included Les Noces for Nijinska.  A prodigious talent, Goncharova had a long and distinguished career in her new home, Paris.
Misia Sert was Russian-born of Polish descent – described as ‘a collector of geniuses, all of them in love with her’, her salon hosted a who’s who of Parisian artistic life. Diaghilev valued her artistic insights and relied on her generous financial support for a company always in crisis. Misia was at Diaghilev’s side when he died in Venice, and she paid for his funeral.

A two-day course, however each day can be stand-alone.

This course is suitable for anyone not only wishing to know more about the history of ballet but also the lives of four women who made their mark in a man’s world.

Tutor information

Bridgett Vane trained as a dancer and dance teacher. After running a dancing and theatrical retail business, she was press and marketing manager for Southampton’s Nuffield Theatre. A former dance adviser to Southern Arts Association, she was a founder of Southampton Dance Circle, and assisted in the running of the Southern Region of the Royal Academy of Dancing. Bridgett’s work is based on extensive up-to-the-minute research, combining her knowledge and engagement with ballet and dance with a passion for history.

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