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Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes
Serge Diaghilev (1872 – 1929) was a Russian ballet impresario and founder of the legendary Ballets Russes dance company. The work of the Ballets Russes revolutionised ballet and had a huge influence on 20th-century art, theatre, fashion and interior design.
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Diaghilev embraced the modern and exploited the avant-garde. He recruited composers, choreographers, designers and performers, including Mikhail Fokine, Léon Bakst and Vaslav Nijinsky, and left an astonishing legacy of music, dance and art, reflected in our collection of costumes, back-cloths, stage designs and photographs.
Collection highlights
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Stage cloth for 'Le Train Bleu', designed by Pablo Picasso, painted by Prince Alexander Schervachidze, 1924, Europe -
Theatre costume for Larionov and Slavinsky's ballet 'Chout', designed by Mikhail Larionov, 1921 -
Costume design for 'Le Coq d'Or', by Natalia Goncharova, about 1914 -
Ballets Russes, poster, by Jean Cocteau, 1913, France -
Serge Lifar and Alice Nikitina in 'Apollon Musagète', photograph, by Sasha, 1928, Paris, France -
Theatre costumes for Fokine's ballet 'Daphnis and Chloé', designed by Léon Bakst, 1912. Museum no. S.508&A, B-1979; S.639&A, B, 635&A, C-1980 -
Design for the costume of Le Buffoon in the ballet 'Chout', by Mikhail Larionov, 1915, Lausanne, Switzerland -
Costume for The Chinese Conjurer in Massine's ballet 'Parade', designed by Pablo Picasso, 1917 -
Signed photograph of Vaslav Nijinsky in 'Le Spectre de la Rose', by Bert, 1913. Valentine Gross Archive -
Costumes for 'Le Train Bleu', designed by Coco Chanel, 1924 -
Backcloth for 'The Firebird', designed by Natalia Goncharova, about 1926 -
Photograph of Tamara Karsavina as the Queen and Adoph Bolm as the stranger in the ballet 'Thamar', by Stanisław Julian Ignacy, 1912, Paris, France
Features
Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes – an introduction
The productions of the Ballets Russes revolutionised early 20th-century arts and continue to influence cultural activity today
Costume for Salome, performed by the Ballets Russes
Take a closer look at the risqué costume designed for Tamara Karsavina in her role as Salome, performed by the Ballet Russes in 1913
Léon Bakst – design for the ballet
Discover Léon Bakst's revolutionary costume designs for the legendary Ballets Russes
Diaghilev's music and choreography
Leading contemporary choreographers and composers give their take on Sergei Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes
Conservation stories: Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes
Go behind the scenes as spectacular costumes, posters and a gigantic Picasso stage cloth are prepared for display
Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes: London walk
Take a journey through the streets of London's Covent Garden to discover key landmarks in the story of Sergei Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes
Header image: Backcloth for 'The Firebird', designed by Natalia Goncharova, about 1926. Museum no. S.455-1980. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London