Photo Gallery: Ballet in Focus

7 July, 1916 © NPG

A display of rarely seen photographs of key ballet dancers from the start of the 20th century goes on display at the National Portrait Gallery. The gallery holds the largest surviving archive of the once-fashionable Bassano Studio, London, including portraits of Anna Pavlova and the great classical dancers Adeline Genée (6), Phyllis Bedells (main) and Ninette de Valois (2), founder of the Royal Ballet.

These images are shown alongside a newly acquired portfolio from 1913 by E O Hoppé and Bert of Diaghilev's star performers from the Ballets Russes. With nearly 40 portraits, the exhibition will focus on the gap between the Romantic ballet of the 19th century and the arrival of Diaghilev's avant-garde Russian company, whose appearance in London in 1911 caused a sensation. The display will bring into focus an overlooked but important period of British dance and theatre history.

Ballet in Focus at National Portrait Gallery until 24 July, 2011
Read theartsdesk's review of Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909-1929
Read theartsdesk's feature "Behind the Scene at the Museum: The Staging of the Diaghilev Exhibition"

Click an image below to view gallery.

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