MICHEL FOKINE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 6

MICHEL FOKINE

Famous Choreographer In Wellington PRINCIPLES OF HIS CREED One who lias helped perhaps as much as any one man to develop the modern school of dancing as interpreted by the Russian ballet is Michel Fokiiie. who Is at present in Wellington, and to bo seen nighlly in his box at the Grand Opera House. He never misses a performance of his own ballets if he can possibly help it, which is astonishing, in view of the mapy hundreds of times be must have witnessed them being played, in all parts of the world. When questioned, lie said lie always attended: always watched every movement; was always intent on the one thing tlmr dominates his life —tlie ballet. Michel Fokinc lias very dellnite ideas on dancing, and one may read in those ideas the principles which have guided him in his choreographic adventures throughout his interesting life. "Dancing should be interpretive,” lie says. “It should never degenerate into mere gymnastics. The dance should explain 'the spirit of the actors in tile spectacle. More than that, it should express the whole epoch to which the subject of the ballet belongs. "Fur such interpretive dancing, the music must be equally inspired. In place of the old time waltzes, polkas, pizzicati, and galops, it is necessary to create a form of musie which expresses the same emotion as that which inspires Hie movement of (he dancer. The ballet must no longer be made up of ‘numbers.’ 'entries’ tint! so on. in place of the traditional dualism, the ballet must have complete unity of expression, a unity which is made up of a. harmonious blending of three elements —music, painting mid the plastic art.”

That may lie said to be the creed of the creator of “Carnaval,” “Scheherazade,” “Petrouchka,” *'Le Spectre de la Rose,” “Don Juan,” “The Fire Bird,” Glcopatre.” and. “Les Sylpliides.” And lie goes on creating. “Cendrillon” (Cinderella” is his latest creation, a mime of exquisite fancy, which tells in glowing colour and movement flic old. old fairy story which no child ever tires of hearing.

Michel Mikhaylovich Fokinc, who was born in St. Petersburg in 1880, was - tlie son of a well-to-do business man. But lie did not follow in his father’s footsteps. At I lie age of nine he entered the Imperial School of Ballet, attached io the Marinsky 'Theatre, am) began his studies under Platon Karsavin, father of the famous ballerina Thaniar Karsavina. The new pupil made rapid progress, and. two years later was transferred, to the class of Volkov, who was such a martinet for technical precision. From time to time he danced in the corps de ballet, and in 1891 took part in the annual pupils’ display, when he was allotted the role of Luc in Ivanov’s ballet, “The Magic Flute.” From his earliest year Fokinc surprised his teachers by his versatility and aptitude for dancing, miming, music, and' painting—fhe whole realm of the ballet. Later lie took lessons from Shirayev, Gerdt, and Legal:. In due course ho passed his examination for the ballet, and made his professional debut at Hie Marinsky Theatre on April 26, .1808, when bo (lanced in the pas de quatre from “Paquita.” Early in the century, when an acknowledged dancer of quality, he happened to read the “Daphne and Chloe” of Longus, and wrote a ballet scenario upon it. That was the beginning of his creative efforts. Then he wrote “Le Cygne” (the swan) for Anna Pavlova, set to the music of Saint-Saens. This conception lasted the danseuso all her life. A year later came his “Midsummer Night's Dream,” and “La Vigne,” which brought, him the congratulations of that other great, master choreographer, Marius Petipa. And so, from triumph to triumph, till 190 S saw his acceptance of the position of choreographer to the ballet of which Serge Diaghilert was head. He is a man of middle height, and compact figure. His eyes are deep-set, his features clearcut and peculiarly English. What hair he has is grey and his facial aspect iu grave. Yet there is an alertness in figure, bearing, and speech that proelainis Michel Fokine to lie an outstanding man.