The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-07

RrssIAN I,IPEnIAL DANCERs.

=
While lively curiosity probably was
che strongest Of the magnets that drew
the brilliant audience to the salt Lake
theatre yesterday afternoon to witness
the performance by the imperial Rus
sian ballet. the merit Of the attraction
would draw a much larger audience
were 10 to return. one L. ready TO be-
licvc that Mile. Anna Pavlowa. abso-
lutely assured 10 be the prima ballerina
assoluta Of the Imperial opera mouse,
st. Petersburg. and NJ. MiSail Mordkln,
equally az strongly assured TO be the
premier dancer classique OF the irnper-
ial opera house. MOSCOW. thoroughly
spell the last word in classical inter
probation Of the terpsichorean art. for
IL is art as handled by those Two prin-
cipals.
young man who applied TO the dramatic
editor for an. assignment and drew a
ballet instead OF the desired burlesque
show that one must be educated up TO
ballet dancing as one should be 10 ap-
preciate olives. But the most Gntu-
tored. the individual who prefers a clog
to any other sort OF dancing, could ap-
ureciate the pictured stories told upon
the stage by this excellent company
and vet not a word spoken. Il was
not essential chat one should closely
apply oneself TO understand me laie
that was being slowly unfolded by the
twinklinE feet Of the dancers. ana the
expressive eyes Of the pretty women
and agile men who danced away only
too brief a period OF time
Mile. Pavlowa. the flower OF the
cars dancers. has been uitelN de-
sCribed as the poetry OF motion by the
and more. Graceful as a fawn. with
"A pretty. attractive face. lissome ana
wiliOwy. she responded to every note
OF the orchestra. and related a romance
as absorbing as though II were from
the printed page. In company easily
believed TO have been selected from the
! best dancers OF any county. she proved
her right to the position Of star.
MordlSin the leader OF the dancers,
| the head Of the male contingent. equal
| ly As graceful as his sister star. Is the
/ living embodiment Of what one would
ina zine a star in a company or dance
artists should be. The picture OF health
and strength. his splendidly controlled
muscles responded apparently TO every
I demand upon them. and at once contra 10
/ dicted the theory that perfect grace is
/ impossible to a human body whose
| strcnEth had been at all unusually de-
| veloped-
The opening number. which told the
/ story Of "The Legend Of Azyiade.' with
\ Mile. Pavlowa and Mordkin as princi-
| pals. and the fun strength Of the com
| pany with the other solo dancers, was
| perhaps the most pleasing Of the pro-
| gram. with Mordkin as an oriental
| tribal chieftain. surrounded by his
| court dancing girls. retalnerS and MS
| official headsman. and Mile. PaNlOWa
/ as the captive queen who - hroug ht
! before him. the story unfOlded itself
| so naturally and easily that he libret-
! to. which sold freely throughout the
The triumphal entry Of the soldiers
I with their Captives. the chicftain
| plea sure thereat his admiration OF tho
| captive woman. and his supreme glad
mess when the captive queen was
| brought before him. showed plainly IN
/ an acme or UsntOmimc. The rage OF
! the captive queen. her lOathing OF her
[ captor. her simulated pleasure when Inc
] uubinds her. his passionate WoOing. his
/ rage At his soldiers as they cast adj
/ miriug glances at her. her apparent &C
] CepfanCe OF his intentions. the depart
! ure OF the company at the command OF
/ their chief. and the closing scene as she
/ druEs his wine and gives him 10 drink
/ moved rapidly along. the falling cur
tain revealing her escape with one Of
! her women. As critics all over the
| country have agreed that never did
I anything OF the kind equal it, one must
] perforce agree with them. At least an
/ enthusiastic audience would approve
/ no other verdict.
! The characteristic Polish and Rus
/ sian dances were shown. and the whole
| closed with the Dance Bacchante by
| the two principals. regarded by the