Performance Database

History: Dance company founded by Marie Rambert. Until the 1960s, the company gave 1930 as the year of its foundation because that year saw the first performances of the Marie Rambert Dancers. With the change of direction in 1966, the company looked back at its choreographic history and changed the year of its creation to 1926, taking Ashton’s ‘A Tragedy of Fashion’ as its founding work. Therefore, four years of the Rambert School’s history (1926-1929) are included as part of the company’s history because programmes in these years credit ‘pupils of Madame Rambert’ and ‘Madame Rambert’s School of Dancing’, not a company.: :In 1931, Rambert’s husband Ashley Dukes partitioned the school’s premises, Horbury Hall in Notting Hill Gate, to create a small theatre. Together, they launched the Ballet Club, initially a private club so that performances could be held on Sundays when the dancers were free. In 1933, the theatre became licensed for public performances and was named the Mercury. When performing at the Mercury, the company was known as Ballet Club. When performing at other London theatres or elsewhere in the UK, the company was variously called Marie Rambert Dancers, The Rambert Ballet, and Ballet Rambert. First used in 1935, Ballet Rambert gradually became the official name. : :In 1940-41, the company was based at the Arts Theatre Club, London, along with Antony Tudor’s London Ballet. Ballet Rambert and London Ballet began to share personnel and resources so that over the course of the two years, their names became amalgamated. In late 1941, the dancers brought in Equity because Harold Rubins, who owned the Arts Theatre Club, did not pay them a living wage. In response, Rubins fired them. London Ballet folded, but Ballet Rambert took Rubins to court because he had leased the sets and costumes and refused to return them. Consequently, the company did not exist in 1942 while the court case ensued. : :In March 1943, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (C.E.M.A.) took over management of the re-launched Ballet Rambert. C.E.M.A. toured small ensembles of musicians and actors to armament factories in England and Wales, where they performed to workers during their breaks. With its repertoire created for the small stage of the Mercury, Ballet Rambert was ideal for this ‘home front’ work. Ballet Rambert now became a touring company. Soon, it was pioneering performances in ‘towns without theatres’, dancing for the general public in town halls, miners’ welfare halls, and other spaces. When World War II ended, Ballet Rambert toured Germany in early 1946 with E.N.S.A., performing for British soldiers stationed there. : :In 1947, the association with C.E.M.A., now called Arts Council of Great Britain, ended, and Ballet Rambert undertook a successful 15-month tour of Australia and New Zealand. Around half the dancers stayed in Australia, and so the diminished company was known as Ballet at Eight in its final season at the Mercury in 1949. Although the name soon reverted to Ballet Rambert, The Rambert Ballet was also used during the 1950s.: :In 1966, Ballet Rambert changed direction. It became a small ensemble focusing on contemporary works using a contemporary technique. The dancers were encouraged to choreograph. A resident orchestra, The Mercury Ensemble, was established. Norman Morrice became Artistic Director in 1970, succeeded by John Chesworth in 1974. : :Robert North was appointed Artistic Director in 1980, succeeded by Richard Alston in 1986. In 1987, Alston changed the name to Rambert Dance Company to reflect the contemporary repertoire. The company was without an artistic director in 1993, and The Mercury Ensemble folded. Christopher Bruce relaunched the company in 1994, with the London Musici as its associate orchestra (until 2009). Bruce remained artistic director until 2002, when Mark Baldwin took over. In August 2013, the company’s name became Rambert. Baldwin stepped down in 2018, succeeded by Benoit Swan Pouffer.

Performances as Ballet Club

Date ↿⇂ Dance Work ↿↾ Dance company Venue ↿⇂
2 Oct 1938
Evening
Valse Finale* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Oct 1933
Evening
Valse (from Les Sylphides) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
2 Oct 1938
Evening
Trio (Lachrymae) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Trio (Lachrymae) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
The Two Igors Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
The Tartans (Dances on a Scottish Theme) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
The Tartans (Dances on a Scottish Theme) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
The Tartans Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Feb 1938
Evening
The Tartans Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
The Tartans* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
The Strike of Wives (Lysistrata) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
The Shepherd's Wooing (from 'The Gods go a-begging') Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
The Shepherd's Wooing (from 'The Gods go a-begging') Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
The Shepherd's Wooing Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
10 Nov 1935
Evening
The Rape of the Lock* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
14 Nov 1937
Evening
The Planets Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
The Planets Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
8 Nov 1936
Evening
The Planets Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
10 Nov 1935
Evening
The Planets Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
28 Oct 1934
Evening
The Planets* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Oct 1933
Evening
The Marriage of Hebe Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Oct 1933
Evening
The Marriage of Hebe* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
The Mannequin and her Beau Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 Apr 1935
Evening
The Lady of Shalott Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
The Garden Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
24 Oct 1937
Evening
The Descent of Hebe Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 Apr 1935
Evening
The Descent of Hebe* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
The Circus Girl* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
The American Sailor Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
28 Oct 1934
Evening
The Alcina Suite (La Belle Assemblée from Vauxhall Gardens)* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
Standchen (Strauss, arr. Walter Gieseking); Liebeslied (Kreisler, arr. Rachmaninoff) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
Spanish Dances: La Maja; Farucca; Malaguena; Rhapsodia Valenciana; Zapateado Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Soirée de Vienne, no. 6 (Schubert-Liszt) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Scherzo* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Saudade do Brésil Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Saudade do Brésil Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Russian Peasant Dance Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Feb 1938
Evening
Ricordanza (Liszt) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1933
Evening
Récamier* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Prelude in D Major (Rachmaninoff); Prelude in G Sharp Minor (Rachmaninoff) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
Prelude in B minor (Rachmaninov); Prelude in G major (Rachmaninov) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Pompette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
Pompette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
Pompette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
Pompette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Pompette* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
14 Nov 1937
Evening
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
24 Oct 1937
Evening
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Oct 1933
Evening
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 May 1933
Evening
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Pavane pour une Infante Défunte* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
Passionate Pavane Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
8 Nov 1936
Evening
Passionate Pavane Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
Pas de Deux from Casse-Noisette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
Pas de Deux from Casse-Noisette Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Mar 1939
Evening
Paris-Soir* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
22 Apr 1934
Evening
Paramour* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Our Lady's Juggler Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Oct 1933
Evening
Our Lady's Juggler* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
Musical interlude Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Mr Roll's Military Quadrilles* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
Mlle Fifi Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jun 1935
Evening
Mermaid Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Jun 1934
Evening
Mermaid Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
15 May 1934
Evening
Mermaid Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
22 Apr 1934
Evening
Mermaid Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Mar 1934
Evening
Mermaid* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Mercury Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
12 Nov 1931
Evening
Mercury Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
14 Nov 1937
Evening
Mephisto Valse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Jun 1934
Evening
Mephisto Valse* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Menuet from ''Suite Bergamasque'' (Debussy) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Mazurka des Hussars Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
Mars and Venus Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Mar 1932
Evening
Mars and Venus Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Mars and Venus Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Mar 1932
Evening
Lysistrata or The Strike of Wives* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Mar 1934
Evening
Lysistrata Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
5 Mar 1933
Evening
Lysistrata Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Feb 1938
Evening
Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Mar 1934
Evening
Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 May 1933
Evening
Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jun 1935
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
15 May 1934
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1933
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 May 1933
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
5 Mar 1933
Evening
Les Masques (ou, Changement de Dames)* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
5 Mar 1933
Evening
Le Spectre de la Rose Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
Le Spectre de la Rose Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
Le Spectre de la Rose Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
Le Rugby Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
22 Apr 1934
Evening
Le Rugby Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Le Rugby Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Le Rugby Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Le Rugby Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
Le Péri* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Le Lac des Cygnes Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 Apr 1935
Evening
Le Cricket Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Le Cricket Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Le Cricket Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1933
Evening
Le Boxing Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
Le Boxing Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Le Boxing* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
12 Nov 1931
Evening
Lady of Shalott* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
12 Nov 1931
Evening
Lac des Cygnes Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 Apr 1935
Evening
La Valse Chez Madame Récamier Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
La Péri (The Flower of Immortality) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
La Péri Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
La Péri Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
La Péri Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
La Péri* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
14 Nov 1937
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
24 Oct 1937
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
8 Nov 1936
Evening
La Muse s'Amuse* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
La Belle Ecuyère* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
11 Oct 1934
Evening
La Belle Assemblée, a Ballet* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1933
Evening
L'Après-midi d'un faune Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
L'Après-midi d'un faune Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
L'Après-midi d'un faune Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
L'Après-midi d'un faune* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
24 Oct 1937
Evening
Jardin aux Lilas Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
28 Oct 1934
Evening
If Love's a Sweet Passion (Purcell) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Gavotte Sentimentale Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
28 Oct 1934
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Oct 1933
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
5 Mar 1933
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Foyer de Danse Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
Foyer de Danse* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
8 Nov 1936
Evening
Façade Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Mar 1932
Evening
Façade Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
Façade* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
Étrange Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
Étrange Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
Étrange* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Mar 1939
Evening
Death and the Maiden Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Mar 1939
Evening
Death and the Maiden Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
Death and the Maiden Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
24 Oct 1937
Evening
Death and the Maiden Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Dances on a Scottish Theme Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Dances from Carnaval Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
10 Nov 1935
Evening
Dances from Aurora's Wedding Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Mar 1939
Evening
Dances from ''Lac des Cygnes'' Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Dances from ''Cross-Garter'd'' Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Dances from ''Carnaval'' Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
12 Nov 1931
Evening
Cross-Garter'd* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
14 Nov 1937
Evening
Cross Gartered* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
Croquis de ''Mercure'' (Sketches for ''Mercury'') Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Feb 1938
Evening
Croquis de ''Mercure'' (Sketches for ''Mercury'')* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
Constanza's Lament (from ''The Good-humoured Ladies'') Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
Constanza's Lament Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
Constanza's Lament* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jun 1935
Evening
Circus Wings* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
2 Oct 1938
Evening
Cinderella Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
Cinderella* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
22 Apr 1934
Evening
Carnaval Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
19 Mar 1939
Evening
Capriol Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Mar 1938
Evening
Capriol Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
29 Nov 1936
Evening
Capriol Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
28 Oct 1934
Evening
Capriol Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
Capriol Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
2 Oct 1938
Evening
Bohemian Dance (Smetana, 1877); Carillon, Tango and Scherzo (Martinu); Film en Miniature (Martinu, 1929) Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
2 Oct 1938
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergére Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Feb 1938
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergère Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 Apr 1935
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergère Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergère Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
13 Jun 1934
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergère Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
15 May 1934
Evening
Bar aux Folies-Bergère* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
Aurora's Wedding Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Mar 1932
Evening
Aurora's Wedding Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
Aurora's Wedding Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
7 May 1933
Evening
Atalanta of the East* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
American Sailor (from 'Les Matelots') Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
9 Oct 1932
Evening
American Sailor (from 'Les Matelots')* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Jan 1938
Evening
American Sailor Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Apr 1938
Evening
Alcina Suite Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
20 Apr 1931
Evening
Adagio from Lac des Cygnes Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
à La Russe* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
3 Apr 1938
Evening
à La Polka Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
6 Jan 1935
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
1 Jan 1933
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 Feb 1932
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
31 Dec 1931
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
4 May 1931
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
16 Feb 1931
Evening
A Florentine Picture Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
''Valse'' from Les Sylphides Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
''Russian Peasant'' Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
''Pas de Deux'' from Mr Roll's Military Quadrilles Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
''Fée Dragée'' from Aurora's Wedding Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London
27 Nov 1932
Evening
''Desperate Blues''* Ballet Club Mercury Theatre, London