Kiril Vassilkovsky interviewed by Bill Stephens [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3791501
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Vassilkovsky, Kiril, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, written permission is required for personal copies and public use for 10 years from the date of the interview.
- Description:
-
- 2006
- 1 sound file (ca. 82 min.)
- Summary:
-
Kiril Vassilkovsky born 1919, in Latvia, talks about his family background; his childhood in Latvia; childhood in England where his family moved when he was four years of age; his early involvement in ballet; being taught by Marie Rambert and Igor Schwetzoff; financial arrangements and dancing for Igor Schwetzoff; auditioning for Col. De Basil; being engaged by De Basil to tour Australia for the 1939/40 tour by Ballet Russes; rehearsals on the ship to Australia; Serge Lifar; David Lichine; dancing "The Drummer" in "Graduation Ball" with the Borovansky Ballet; the dancers who made up the original Ballet Russes; first impressions of Australia; the Sydney Season and a trip to The Blue Mountains; accommodation in Sydney; Serge Grigorieff; social and working life for Ballet Russes; the "baby" ballerinas; the salary; touring the U.S.A for Sol Hurok; being stranded in Cuba; reforming the company in Cuba; six years touring South and Central America; maintaining performance standards on tour; his bid for American citizenship working as a free-lance dancer; rejoining the Ballet Russes for its second European tour.
Vassilkovsky discusses the "Original Ballet Russes" tour of England, following the death of De Basil in 1950; the condition of the costumes and sets at this time; life after the Ballet Russes; working in the Marquis de Cuevas Ballet; working as assistant to Bronislava Nijinska; Edouard Borovansky; developing the ability to reproduce ballets; accepting Borovansky's invitation to join his ballet company as co-repetiteur; his responsibilities as co-repetiteur and co-artistic director; the standard of the Borovansky dancers; advice from Borovansky; recommencing with The Borovansky Ballet as a soloist; choreographing "Candide"; dancing with Kathleen Gorham; the attraction of choreography; life after the Borovansky Ballet; an invitation to work as a teacher with the West Australian Ballet; the impact of Rex Reid as Artistic Director of the West Australian Ballet Company; an invitation from Luis Moreno to choreograph; teaching; reflects on his accomplishments; his London encore of "The Drummer" in "Graduation Ball"; life in the Borovansky Ballet compared to life in the Ballet Russes.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on September 14, 2006 at Carlisle, W.A.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (5 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 33 leaves)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Stephens, Bill, 1936-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2076 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2006
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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