Dame Marie Rambert (1888-1982)
Biography:
Founder and Artist Director of the dance company now known as Rambert. Marie Rambert was born Cyvia Ramberg in Warsaw, Poland, then under Russian domination. After secondary school, she moved to Paris, where she took part in productions by Isadora Duncan's brother, Raymond. Rambert studied eurhythmics with Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and became a teacher at his organisation. In 1912, Serge Diaghilev hired her as assistant to the choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky to help the dancers in his new radical ballet 'Le Sacre du printemps' understand the complex rhythms of Igor Stravinsky's score. She also danced in the ballet when in premiered in 1913.
With the outbreak of World War I, Rambert emigrated to London, and in 1918 married English playwright Ashley Dukes (1885–1959). Initially finding work as a eurhythmics teacher, Rambert also trained with Enrico Cecchetti, opening her ballet school in 1920 upon receipt of her Cecchetti certificate. In 1926, she was invited to provide a ballet for the revue 'Riverside Nights', and she convinced one of her students, Frederick Ashton, to choreograph 'A Tragedy of Fashion', which was subsequently considered her company's founding work. Rambert performed with her students and emerging company 1926-1931 as well as choreographing and staging ballets.
In 1957, she was awarded the Legion d’Honneur. In 1962, Rambert was made Dame Commander (DBE), Order of the British Empire.
With the outbreak of World War I, Rambert emigrated to London, and in 1918 married English playwright Ashley Dukes (1885–1959). Initially finding work as a eurhythmics teacher, Rambert also trained with Enrico Cecchetti, opening her ballet school in 1920 upon receipt of her Cecchetti certificate. In 1926, she was invited to provide a ballet for the revue 'Riverside Nights', and she convinced one of her students, Frederick Ashton, to choreograph 'A Tragedy of Fashion', which was subsequently considered her company's founding work. Rambert performed with her students and emerging company 1926-1931 as well as choreographing and staging ballets.
In 1957, she was awarded the Legion d’Honneur. In 1962, Rambert was made Dame Commander (DBE), Order of the British Empire.
Archive catalogue:
DS/UK/4
Works
Performances
Date ↿⇂ | Dance Work ↿⇂ | Role ↿⇂ | Venue ↿⇂ |
---|---|---|---|
15 Jun 1926 Evening |
A Tragedy of Fashion (or ''The Scarlet Scissors'') (A Ballet)* | Orchidée (his partner) | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
23 Jul 1927 Evening |
Suite de Danses* | Entrée | New Scala Theatre, London |
23 Jul 1927 Evening |
Suite de Danses* | Danse Sentimentale | New Scala Theatre, London |
21 Dec 1928 Evening |
La Pomme d'Or (The Temptation) | A Florentine Maiden | Century Theatre, London |
21 Dec 1928 Evening |
Nymphs and Shepherds (Suite de Danses) | Dancer | Century Theatre, London |
21 Dec 1928 Evening |
The Russian Peasant* | Dancer | Century Theatre, London |
25 Feb 1930 Matinee |
Our Lady's Juggler* | The Virgin | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
25 Feb 1930 Matinee |
Russian Peasant | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
25 Feb 1930 Matinee |
Gavotte Sentimentale | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
23 Jun 1930 Evening |
Mazurka des Hussars* | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
23 Jun 1930 Evening |
Our Lady's Juggler | The Virgin | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
23 Jun 1930 Evening |
Russian Peasant | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
20 Dec 1930 Evening |
Carnaval* | Estrella (in pink) | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
20 Dec 1930 Evening |
A Florentine Picture* | The Madonna | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
22 Dec 1930 Evening |
Carnaval | Estrella (in pink) | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
22 Dec 1930 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
3 Jan 1931 Evening |
Carnaval | Estrella (in pink) | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
3 Jan 1931 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
5 Jan 1931 Evening |
Primavera* | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
5 Jan 1931 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
5 Jan 1931 Evening |
Carnaval | Estrella (in pink) | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
16 Feb 1931 Evening |
Russian Peasant Dance | Dancer | Mercury Theatre, London |
16 Feb 1931 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Mercury Theatre, London |
20 Apr 1931 Evening |
Gavotte Sentimentale | Dancer | Mercury Theatre, London |
20 Apr 1931 Evening |
Mazurka des Hussars | Dancer | Mercury Theatre, London |
15 Jun 1931 Evening |
Gavotte Sentimentale | Dancer | Lyric Hammersmith, London |
10 Oct 1931 Evening |
Peasants' Frolic | Dancer | New Theatre, London |
27 Nov 1932 Evening |
''Russian Peasant'' | Dancer | Mercury Theatre, London |
27 Nov 1932 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Mercury Theatre, London |
1 Jan 1933 Evening |
A Florentine Picture | The Madonna | Mercury Theatre, London |