New Lease Of Life For U.K. Ballet Company

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 4

New Lease Of Life For U.K. Ballet Company

LONDON. Britain’s oldest ballet company, the Ballet Rambert, has taken on a fresh lease of life after being threatened with extinction. The company, in a new form after recent reorganisation, will make its London debut on November 28. It no longer has a corps de ballet but consists of 18 soloists, 12 of whom remain from the ranks of the old company’s 34 dancers. Six newcomers include three New Zealanders, Patricia Rianne. Terry James and Paul Vlasic. Dame Marie Rambert, the ballet’s 78-year-old Warsawbom founder and director, and her new co-director, the young choreographer, Norman Morrice—one of her discoveries—are to present a world premiere and five ballets new to London during their forthcoming two-week session at the Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre. World Premiere The world premiere will be “Time Base,” a ballet by John Chesworth, one of the company’s dancers, set to music by the Polish composer, Witold Lutoslawsky. The ballets which London will see for the first time include two by Pierre Lacotte, director of the Ballet des Jeunesses Musicales de France, with the titles “Numeros” and “Intermede.” Another is “Night Island” by the Dutch choreographer, Rudi van Danzig. Maryon Lane. South African principal of the Royal Ballet, will appear with the company during its London season. She will be seen in the role which she created in Kenneth Macmillan’s 1954 ballet, “Lab derette.” The original Ballet Rambert, founded in 1930, was a nursery of choreographic talent. Among Dame Marie Rambert’s discoveries were Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor, Andree Howard and Walter Gore. The new company, which

gets a government grant through Britain's Arts Council, will return to its original artistic policy of the 1930‘s and 1940’5. It plans to preserve certain works from its past while encouraging the creation of new works by both established and apprentice choreographers, composers and designers.