Remembering Nichska - the Bernice Rehner Collection

 Bernice Rehner Barnes died on Sunday, September 29, at her home, surrounded by her husband Walt and her family.  We will miss her bright personality and unfettered joy at being a part of the Archive.  We are grateful to her for her amazing contribution and wish her family our condolences during this time.

The Bernice Rehner Collection is one of the largest and most diverse group of manuscripts and records that we have in the Ballets Russes Archive.  The collection contains a wide variety of documents that relate to her time as a student dancer at the School of American Ballet and her time in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.  The collection includes some materials from her very early life as a dancer, including this adorable photograph.

Young Bernice Rehner

The Rehner collection contains the only materials in the Archive from the School of American Ballet in New York.  Bernice Rehner studied there with George Balanchine, among others, following her high school graduation in 1943.  She received her nickname, "Nichska," while there.  

In 1945, Bernice and 15 other students travelled with Balanchine and members of the Ballet Caravan to Mexico to perform with the Mexican Opera.  On July 19 and 25, they got a chance to give a concert featuring the students, Marie-Jeanne, and Nicholas Magallanes.  

Back in New York, she also got a chance to perform on TV in a version of Peter and the Wolf.  Bernice portrayed the Wolf and got to do a back flip.   It was also one of the first times she was paid for dancing.  

Bernice Rehner, Myrna Galle and other dancers in Peter and the Wolf Rehearsal

She was brought in to fill a corps spot in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in February 1946 and stayed on contract with the company for the 10-week New York season.  Due to her close connection with her family, she was sending a number of telegrams home.

She also sent newsy letters, although by her own admission, she burned many of the letters her parents saved due to her "juvenile" language.

Bernice Rehner 

For the Hollywood Bowl season, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo needed a new more permanent corps member.  Due to her time with the company in New York, Freddie Franklin suggested Bernice because she knew all the dances already.  As part of the company, she was eligible to join the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).  Her contract was for what would be considered hardly any money today, but she was overjoyed to be a real dancer with the Ballet Russe.

Bernice saved a number of unique items that allow us to understand what this time was like for a dancer in a touring company, including a number of rehearsal schedules.

Unlike many other dancers, we have very few pictures of Bernice from her time with the company.  Some of the pictures are from other collections, although this one is hers.

Bernice Rehner during her time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Photo courtesy of Maurice Seymour

She  saved a number of performance programs from the many places that the company performed.

She saved tour itineraries, hotel lists, and other travel items, detailing the time on the road by the company.

Bernice became great friends with fellow dancer, George Verdak, while in the company.  He was a very talented artist who made a habit of sketching fat performers on doilies, napkins, and place mats.  Due to their friendship, she ended up with a large collection of these drawings, which we are happy to have here.

"Fat Ballerina" by George Verdak.

Bernice remained with the company from 1946-1950 and was a part of some very exciting seasons.

The Hollywood Bowl season in the summer of 1950 was to be Bernice's last time performing with the company.  

Helen Seroy and Bernice Rehner at rehearsal in the Hollywood Bowl, July, 1950

Bernice met Walt Barnes in May 1950 just before the Hollywood Bowl season.  After her return, they were married less than two months later on September 24, 1950.  She left the company for a life in California with her beloved husband and never looked back.  They were married for 63 years.

When the Ballets Russes Archive was founded in 2007, Bernice Rehner was one of the first to contribute to the Archive.  She was always excited when we used her material.  We hope that she'd be pleased with this.  We are so grateful for the trust that our donors place in us to maintain their materials and preserve them for future users.  She loved dance and her time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo remained a highlight of her life.

Thanks for the memories, Nichska.  We'll keep them safe for you always.