Materials in the Collection - Photographs

At the Ballets Russes Archive, we have a wide variety of materials that comprise our collections.  The most prevalent type of material that we have are photographs.  Nearly every collection contains photos, and some have photos as their primary type of item.

Being a dance archive, the typical photograph that people expect to see and that many donors give is the studio portrait.  These are often taken for a role, but they may also be used for a professional portfolio.

Paula Tennyson as Odette in Swan Lake.  Photo by Maurice Seymour

Many of these professional portraits are staged or only done in a photography studio.  However, professionals were also brought in to take shots during performances.

Performance of Swan Lake by the Original Ballet Russe.  

Many of the photographs that we find the most interesting are the backstage photos.  These provide a unique look into the experiences of the dancers from a view most patrons would never get to see. 

Tatiana Bechenova backstage with the Original Ballet Russe

Other truly entertaining photos come to us from general snapshots.  The dancers spent a lot of time together engaging in tourism, travel, and, occasionally, general silliness.   

Racing with eggs on board a ship.

Of course, our favorites come from our personal grouping of photos - "Dancers with Animals"

Nathalie Branitzka-Hoyer with a koala on Australian tour in 1936-7