Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04

In these days of the radio there
still remains one form of musical
entertainment that-until tcle-
Il vision has been perfected and
possibly linked TIP with the radio, at
least-cannct be enjoyed by audi
ences of millions who use the radio
for a major portion of their indul-
gence in matters musical. This form
of musical entertainment is the bal.
let. Yet the ballet which tip-toed
into the background for some time
until Diaghileff. the Russian genius.
revived interest i'll the dance, and
on this side of the ocean various
schools, combining the purely rhyth-
mic with the traditional ballet.
brought forth many disciples and
general interest in the terpsichorean
art. seems at this time to be even
increasing in its popularity.
A letter just received from abroad
= from one of Washingtons most au-
thentic opponents of the ballet art,
Paul Tchernikoff, contains news that
is of interest to those who enjoy
either participating in or watching
the graceful art that is the ballet at
J its best. Mr.. Tchernikoff writes
from Florence, Italy. and later from
Paris. He says that this Sum-
mer seems to have been more hectic
than ever, and already it's been a
procession of ballets. 'Mercure, with
music by Eric Satie, is quite too aw-
q full and has no reason for being. An
other, Pas d'Acier.' with music by
Prokoheff. is much better. The first
part is quite too much for me-Rus-
STA under the Soviet, but | doubt if
any one could understand it. The
, second half, The Industrial Age and
Machinery is superb. There is the
steady rhythm of machinery and the
dancers, with arms or legs linked,
give very much the effect of great
looms. dynamos, etc. l was very
much thrilled by it.
They danced several of the older
ballots. 'Oiseau de Feu' and Prince
Igor and they were frankly dull, due,
, no doubt, to the fact that they were
badly danced. / am sorry not to
have seen more of Liars work.
Argentina gave an evening OF
Spanish dances at the Champs
-Elysees, and it was superb for the
old classical dancing of Spain. She
danced de Falla's 'LAmour Sorcier,
! and was less happy in the gypsy
: work than in her short dances"
p Mr.. Tchernikoff then mentions that
both he and his partner in their
school in Washington, Elizabeth
Gardner, worked for a month with
Volinine. in Paris, and enjoyed the
work immensely. He adds that there
were too many Americans in the
class; that. in fact, Paris is full of
American dancers, mostly doing jazz
work. There was gala class one
day, however, according to this let
ter, when Pavlowa. "the incompa-
rable," and Koussevitzky, conductor
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
and Prokofieff. Russian modernist
composer, attended as spectators.
Mr.. Tchernikoff says: "Pavlowa
looks younger than ever and she was
most pleased with Elizabeth's prog
fress.'
ir In further mention of ballet per-
formances abroad this Summer, the
Washington dancer says: we were
so lucky, getting to Paris just in
sine to see the last two performances
of the Diaghileff company. They do
not seem as popular as last year and
their prices are much higher, but it
was worth it. We saw several of the
new things. the loveliest of all being
La Chatte,' with Liar and Oikitina.
Liar has improved immensely as !
dancer and is easily the outstanding
hsure now in the company. Massine
: has rejoined the company and has
: arranged several new dances that are
formidable"
At the beautiful Italian home of
John Beach, American composer, Mr..
! Tchernikoff gave an informal pro-
Z gram before company which in
cluded the Malipieros and Signora
oCasella. wife of Alfredo Casella.
Venetian lanterns light against an,
old castle wall provided the setting.
! Also on this informal program ap-
peared Una Fairweather. a young
American singer, whom Mr.. Tcher-
snikoff says was the only American
singer invited to Moscow by the