FUTURE EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS

Serge Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909 - 1929

'Le Train Bleu', stage frontcloth signed by Picasso for the Diaghilev Ballets Russes, 1924. Museum no. S.316-1978

25 September 2010 - 9 January 2011

This major retrospective will examine the origins, development and long term influence of the Ballets Russes, to celebrate the centenary of their first appearance in 1909.

Diaghilev’s extraordinary company, which survived a twenty-year rollercoaster of phenomenal successes and crippling problems, revolutionised ballet. As importantly, Diaghilev’s use of avant-garde composers, such as Stravinsky and designers such as Bakst, Goncharova, Picasso and Matisse, made a major contribution to the introduction of Modernism.

Museum staff are currently researching the exhibition and would be interested to hear from any individuals who have relevant private material. In particular, a large number of original costumes were dispersed at the Sotheby’s auctions in the early 1970s. So if you have an original costume still hanging in your wardrobe, we would be delighted to hear from you. In the first instance please contact Jane Pritchard, Curator of Dance at j.pritchard@vam.ac.uk