Performance Database

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.
Archive catalogue: DS/UK/4

Works

The Ballet of Mars and Venus (from the play 'Jew Süss')
Frederick Ashton, 1929
Ballet Philosophique
Vera Donnet, Marie Rambert, 1919
À la ''Biches''
Marie Rambert, 1928
Doll
Marie Rambert, 1928
The Fairy Queen (dances in the opera)
Frederick Ashton, Marie Rambert, 1927
Fêtes Galantes
Vera Donnet, Marie Rambert, 1917
Ganymede
Marie Rambert, 1928
Gopak
Marie Rambert, 1928
Leda
Frederick Ashton, Marie Rambert, 1928
Leda and the Swan
Frederick Ashton, Marie Rambert, 1930
Mannequin and her Beau
Frederick Ashton, Marie Rambert, 1928
Mazurka
Marie Rambert, 1928
Mazurka Finale
Marie Rambert, 1928
Menuet
Marie Rambert, 1928
Nymphs and Shepherds
Frederick Ashton, Marie Rambert, 1927
La Pomme d'Or
Vera Donnet, Marie Rambert, 1917
Primavera
Marie Rambert, 1931
Rigaudon
Marie Rambert, 1928
The Top
Marie Rambert, 1928
The Warrior
Marie Rambert, Harold Turner, 1928

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