RUSSIAN BALLET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 9

RUSSIAN BALLET.

OPENING TO-MORROW WEEK

Not since pre-depression days has there been such interest in any approaching season as in the case of the Monte Carlo .Russian Ballet, which will open at His Majesty's Theatre to-morrow week with performances of "The Sylphides," herazade" and "Aurora's Wedding." Exquisite Chopin melodies are chosen for "Lee Sylphides." Helene Kirsova Iβ principal danseuse in this ballet. The dramatic surprise of the opening programme will be "Scheherazade." Ime ballet will include many principals, favourites of the company, including Leon Woizikowsky and Nina Raievska. From beginning to end it moves in a sweep of dramatic dance and mime of Oriental music and vivid colour. "Aurora's Wedding" gives a wonderful opportunity to the stage director, Jean Hoyer. During the early days of the Russian Revolution, Xijinska, famoue sister of a famous brother, wrote to Diaghileff from Russia telling him that among her pupils were four male dancers j of exceptional ability. Trusting her implicitly Diaghileff gent for # them, and among them was Jean Hoyer. Very soon young Hoyer began to show a remarkable j aptitude for character dancing. It wae ] I'olonel de Basil who discovered in him j the gift of leadership and who developed i it. As a stage manager, Hoyer is a stern j disciplinarian and at the same time a popular comrade. He is a much-travelled man, having undertaken four tours of America. Details are announced regard-' ing opening of the box plane to-mprrov. morning, for the first seven. MUkJe^MLJk^