New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-08
NIJINSKY'S DEBUT
INSTRIKER'SROLE.
Not a Toe Will Ex-War
Prisoner Twinkle Till
Ante Is Raised.

II has taken only two days Of Broad
way. ample food and New York's bright
lights TO transform VASTLY NijinsKy'
the greatest living male dancer, from
a man who was glad to escape from
an Austrian concentration camp INTO
u disconnected artist demanding the
homage his art should command and
several times as big a salary as Dia-
ghilef. Of the Ballet Russo, IS willing
to pay. ,.....,
Ii was only recently that Nijinsky
the prisoner. told Ambassador Pen
field. i'm Vienna. that he yearned FOR
America at any price. Last night the
dancer arched his artistic eyebrows
and wondered whether he wouldn't
have been better of. after all. TO have
remained a prisoner and consumed the
questionable diet Of the camp and lived
on nothing week until the end OF
the w8r.
Although Nijinsky is demanding
salary several times as large as Dia-
ehilefs representative mentioned to
him yesterday afternoon neither OF
the figures has been named-it isn't
the money so much "a the wound his
pride has suffered since he landed
here Wednesday that really hurts.
Demands Respect and Gold.
So. having no contract with the
Ballet Russo in writing, and knowing
that Diaghileff had advertised him as
the greatest living male dancer, Min
sky has decided that he will not twinkle
a toe at the Metropolitan until his
price has been met and he has been
accorded the respect he demands from
his associates in the ballet.
On arriving here the dancer repaired
10 his hotel, seated himself IN his room
and awaited the arrival of the Ballet
Russo officials with the contract that he
had pictured would he brought to him
by a reception committee.
He waited ell of Wednesday, without
results. Likewise Thursday morning
Then, after swallowrg his pride he
condescended to make IN Engagement
with Diaghileff for the following al
ternoon. But, to his intense indigna-
ton. the head of the organization
failed to keep his appointment! Instead
ne left q man named Brown to repre-
sent him and offer a contract TO Min
sky.
Moreover, the cont act included the
figure that Nijinsky describes as ridlcu-
lous. The dancer spr-ned it, Also, he
walked out of the Office ana refused to
have further discussion nth the man
who had haI the .emerity to offer II to
him.
a want it distinctly understood that
am breaking no contract with Diaghi-
left. because | have none with him."
said the dancer last night. 81 have
decided that | will not appear with the
company until am accorded the iinan-
cial and artistic consideration due me.
While came to America with the
understanding that was TO dance with
the Ballet Russo. am ..ot bound to do
so. as Diaghilef shall soon see
One of the important objects OF crit
icism by Niiinsky was at "L'Apres
Midi dun Faune" had been scheduled
for this afternoons matinee without
consulting him. lie announced that ne
was the only man in the world who could
properly interpret this ballet, and
couldn't understand why even an effort
should be made to stage II without
him. That the management still hopes
20 reach some understanding with him
was indicated by the fact that this
particular ballet has been taken from
the programme for to-day and another
substituted.