New-York tribune., 1919-11-08
M. Fokillc, Creator
OF Russian Ballet.
Reaches New York
Dapper Little Man With Red
Mustache Shows His Tenn
permanent at First Sigh,
of the Citv's Skyscrapers

Michel Fokinc, creator Of the Rus
sian ballet and favorite of the former
Car. arrived in this country yesterday
on the steamer United States from
Copenhagen
A dapper little man, with red cheeks
and q tiny black mustache, dressed in
Inc most precise brown tweeds and
patent leather pumps, he proved that
flowing ties and scraggly locks are not
he trademark of Russian genius When
Mr.. Foknc saw skyscrapers glittering
against the sunset however, he fully
satisfied those who were looking for
temperament. He said ii in Russian
but there was no reason to doubt the
Interpreter. who declared that his
CALCULATIONS meant Gorgeous, mag
niticenE like nothing | ever saw, and !
have Travelled the world over" Asked
If he thought he could arrange a "sky-
scraper bal et.' he laughed and said he
would think about il.
He announced in all earnestness.
however, that he had come TO this coun-
try for the purpose of studying Ameri-
can dances, hoping TO find something
10 inspire in him the creation Of an
other great national dance, similar to
his Arabian and Spanish and Greek
dances. His immediate business is in
connection with the performance of
"Aphrodite," which will open at the
Century Theatre on November "a, Tn
der the direction of Ray Constock and
Morris Gest.
For two years Mr Gest has been
angling for the man whom he described
last night as the greatest genius IN
the world Since the Russian revoiu-
rion Mir. Fokine has been in Copen-
hagen, cut Off from his former friends
and often suffering from lock Of FUNDS
At one time. he boasted yesterday,
he was without dollar, in his journey
from Petrograd through Finland to
Denmark. He and his wife finally
reached the town Of Abo, and there
they put Oh some dancing recitals.
which gave them sufficient funds to
continue the trip. For thirteen years
before the war Mr. Fok.ue was ballet
master at the Imperial Opera House.
and there he reVolutionized the art OF
ballet dancN9 by doing away with
conventional toe dancing and introduce
ing natural graceful movements. cap
able OF expressing emotion.
The modern dramatic dance spectacle
as It has become familiar through the
work Of Nilinski. Bolm, Mord6in. Paw
Iowa ana Lopokova, is his creation. Al!
these We're his pupils. They came to
th,s country. but he was for hidden to
leave the country lest the pleasure OF
HIS Majesty the Gar should suffer
Alter the revolution in Russia the
Bolshevlki drove most Of the lailet .taco
from Petrograd, but so great vas tn
pest &c Of tokne that they elected him
head o the new "People's Theater.
which took the place OF the old I'M
perial Opera House
The war. far from interfering with
dancing as Great national amusemen
has increased its popularity. even ia
Russia he said. Fo~ tho future Of ar.
he mas the highest hopes
Prom our suiferngs fine fower
viii BLOSSOM. he said.
Mr.. Fokine - staying at The Hotel
Marie Antionette, with his wife, Vera
Fokine. also 3 famous dancer and their
thirteen year Old son, whom he vii
send 20 an American school. He IN
spected the Century Tneatre last night.
and pronounced j. much larger and
Anor than his Old Imperial opera
House.