Australia Dancing - Beau Danube, Le

Beau Danube, Le

Photographer unknown: Edouard Borovansky and Alexandra Danilova in 'Le Beau Danube', Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, c. 1935

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Le Beau Danube, a one-act ballet created by Leonide Massine, premiered in Australia in October 1936 during the second program by the first of the de Basil Ballets Russes companies to visit Australia. Its world premiere in Monte Carlo, by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, had taken place three years earlier. The work, with both choreography and libretto by Massine, was a revised revival of a ballet created by Massine in 1924 for Count Etienne de Beaumont's Les Soirees de Paris. The music, by Johann Strauss, was arranged and orchestrated by Roger Desormiere, and set design was by Vladimir Polunine, based on paintings by Constantin Guys. The combination of drama and humour in Le Beau Danube, and its exhilarating choreography, had already made it one of the most popular works in the Ballets Russes repertoire in Europe, and Australian audiences responded with equal enthusiasm.

In the Australian premiere season, the role of the Hussar, originally performed by Massine himself, was danced by Leon Woizikowsky. Helene Kirsova performed as the Street Dancer, a role that had become associated with the dancing of Alexandra Danilova. The First Hand, a demanding role with the thirty-two foutees for which Irina Baronova had become celebrated, was danced by Tamara Tchinarova, and was also performed by the fifteen year old Sonia Woizikowska during the Australian opening season. The role of the Daughter, originally danced by Tatiana Riabouchinska, was performed by the American dancer Mira Dimina (Madeleine Parker) who died tragically during this Australian tour.

During the tour by the Original Ballet Russe in 1939-40, the work was restaged and performed as Le Danube Bleu, without choreographic reference to Massine, and with 'scenes and dances arranged by Serge Lifar'. This version premiered in Sydney on 9 February 1940. Its altered title and lack of choreographic attribution apparently related to a legal dispute over the right of de Basil to produce certain works by Massine, including Le Beau Danube, following the choreographer's departure from de Basil's company.

Le Beau Danube entered the repertoire of the Borovansky Ballet in 1945, with Borovansky delighting audiences by performing the cameo role of the Athlete which had originally been created on him in 1933. Tchinarova's performance as the Street Dancer in this production was also much admired. The work remained in the repertoire of the Borovansky company through to its final 1960 season. Le Beau Danube was the work in which Laurel Martyn and Dorothy Stevenson gave their farewell performances with the company in 1946, and Kathleen Gorham performed as the First Hand following her promotion to the rank of junior ballerina during the 1947 season. In the 1950s, Paul Grinwis and Poul Gnatt were both acclaimed in the role of the Hussar.

Laurel Martyn produced Le Beau Danube for Ballet Victoria in 1969, when it was performed at the Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne, in the 'Ballet for the People' program. In 1978 it was staged from Labanotation by Ray Cook for the Queensland Ballet.

Footage, filmed by Ewan Murray-Will, of Helene Kirsova performing with the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet as the Street Dancer in Le Beau Danube is available online at the australianscreen site 'Monte Carlo Russian Ballet. Original Ballet Russe Clip 1: Hélène Kirsova on stage'

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