Fokine, Michel (1880-1942)

Also known as
Fokin, M. (Mikhail) (1880-1942)
Fokin, Mikhail Mikhaĭlovich (1880-1942)
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35803107
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-722072

Biographies

Dancer and choreographer, Michel Fokine, is credited with revitalising classical ballet in the early 20th century. Fokine was an advocate of natural and expressive choreography, believing that the whole body should express meaning and emotion through the integration of mime, gesture and dance movement. He also believed in the artistic unity of dance, music, drama and design. Fokine's progressive ideas brought him into Serge Diaghilev's circle of artists, writers and musicians and he was invited to become chief choreographer of Diaghilev's Ballet Russe in 1909.

With the Ballet Russe, Fokine was able to put his ideas into practice and he created some of his most famous and enduring works, such as Les Sylphides (1909), which was a reworking of his earlier choreography Chopiniana, The Firebird and Scheherazade (1910), Le Spectre de la rose (1911) and Le Coq d'or (1914). Fokine ended his collaboration with Diaghilev in 1914 and worked as a freelance choreographer and performer in Europe and the United States for many years, eventually settling in New York.

Australian audiences had their first view of Fokine's choreography in 1913, when the visiting Imperial Russian Ballet performed Les Sylphides. It was performed again in Australia by Anna Pavlova's company in 1926 and 1929, under the title Chopiniana. The Dandre-Levitoff Russian Ballet toured Australia in 1934-35, staging Fokine's Prince Igor and Le Carnaval. During their 1936-37 Australian tour, Colonel de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Ballet staged Les Sylphides, Prince Igor and Carnaval, along with Australian premieres of Fokine's The Firebird, Petrouchka, Scheherazade, Le Spectre de la rose and Thamar.

Fokine noted the success of his works overseas and took legal action against de Basil. The law suit was settled amicably and Fokine joined de Basil's Ballets Russes in 1937. Both he and his wife, dancer Vera Fokina, accompanied the Covent Garden Russian Ballet on its tour of Australia and New Zealand from September 1938 to April 1939. Many of Fokine's works were restaged alongside Australian premieres of Cendrillon, Le Coq d'or and Papillons, but this time all of Fokine's choreographic works were staged under his personal supervision.

The presence of Fokine created a buzz in Australia and many sought opportunities to watch company rehearsals. Newspaper critic Geoffrey Hutton made the following comments after watching Fokine at work:

'Fokine in conversation is affable, witty and approachable; Fokine conducting a rehearsal is a despot working with the intense energy of a sculptor in quick-drying clay ... This concentration gives to his ballets a precision and sparkle which they often lack in other hands.'

The dancer Algeranoff worked with Fokine during the tour to Australia and later commented that 'It was very inspiring to work for such a master whose constant demand was perfection, and whose commands one could obey without hesitation. His presence in the audience always gave that added excitement to the atmosphere, and although nobody ever thought of giving less than their best, when he was there we seemed to have more strength, and were empowered to perform even better'.

While in Australia, Fokine choreographed and rehearsed the ballet Paganini, set to music by Rachmaninov. Theatrical entrepreneurs, the Taits, arranged a stage rehearsal in Melbourne and hoped to also stage the world premiere. Fokine, however, declined to stage the ballet without costumes and scenery and Paganini premiered at Covent Garden Opera House in London a few months later. The work was first performed in Australia the following year by the Original Ballet Russe.

Related people and organisations

Resources for Michel Fokine

Resources by Michel Fokine (493)

  1. Fokine, memoirs of a ballet master / translated by Vitale Fokine ; edited by Anatole Chujoy
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Book : 1961 ]
    Languages: English, Russian
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.541)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.541)

  2. Le po?me de Sh?h?razade, tel qu'il fut repr?sent? aux Ballets russes de Serge Diaghilew
    Georges-Michel, Michel, 1883-1985
    [ Book : 1920 ]
    Languages: French
    Read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.496)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.496)

  3. Protiv techenii︠a︡ : vospominanii︠a︡ baletmeĭstera : st︠s︡enarii i zamysly baletov, statʹi, intervʹi︠u︡ i pisʹma / M. Fokin ; [sostavlenie I︠U︡.I. Slonimskiĭ, G.N. Dobrovolʹskai︠a︡, pri uchastii P.S. Linde ... et al.]
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Book : 1981 ]
    Languages: Russian
    At Edith Cowan Uni
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.76)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.76)

  4. Daphnis et Chloé ballet en un acte de Michel Fokine / musique de Maurice Ravel
    Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937
    [ Printed music : 1913 ]
    Languages: French
    At 9 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.657)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.657)

  5. Tatiana Riabouchinska in costume for Paganini, Ballets Russes
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Photograph : 1930-1939 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Tatiana Riabouchinska in costume for Paganini, Ballets Russes
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.1)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.1)

  6. Mecca : "a mosaic in music and mime" / by Oscar Asche. Music by Percy E. Fletcher, choreography by Michael Fokine, staged by E. Lyall Swete... Play novelized by William A. Page. Book illustrated by Carl Link
    Page, William Adino, 1877-1928
    [ Published : 1920 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.734)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.734)

  7. Daphnis et Chloé ballet en 3 parties de Michel Fokine : partition pour le piano / réduite par l'auteur
    Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937
    [ Printed music : 1910 ]
    Languages: French
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.703)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.703)

  8. David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchinska in Le spectre de la rose, Ballets Russes / S. Georges, London
    Georges, S
    [ Photograph : 1930-1935 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchinska in Le spectre de la rose, Ballets Russes / S. Georges, London
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.929)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.929)

  9. Irina Baronova and Anton Dolin in The firebird, Original Ballet Russe Australian tour
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Irina Baronova and Anton Dolin in The firebird, Original Ballet Russe Australian tour
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.568)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.568)

  10. The Firebird & Les noces / Stravinsky
    Royal Opera House (London, England). Orchestra
    [ Video : 2001-2002 ]
    Languages: English, French, German
    At 12 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.159)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.159)

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Resources about Michel Fokine (16)

  1. Fokine, memoirs of a ballet master / translated by Vitale Fokine ; edited by Anatole Chujoy
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Book : 1961 ]
    Languages: English, Russian
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.427)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 26.427)

  2. Le po?me de Sh?h?razade, tel qu'il fut repr?sent? aux Ballets russes de Serge Diaghilew
    Georges-Michel, Michel, 1883-1985
    [ Book : 1920 ]
    Languages: French
    Read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.83)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 12.83)

  3. Michel Fokine & his ballets / by Cyril W. Beaumont ... ..
    Beaumont, Cyril W. (Cyril William), 1891-1976
    [ Book : 1935-1996 ]
    At 13 libraries
    Michel Fokine & his ballets / by Cyril W. Beaumont ... ..
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.364)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.364)

  4. Michel Fokine / Dawn Lille Horwitz
    Horwitz, Dawn Lille
    [ Book : 1985 ]
    At 9 libraries
    Michel Fokine / Dawn Lille Horwitz
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.248)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.248)

  5. Fokine / by Lincoln Kirstein; with an introduction by Arnold L. Haskell
    Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-
    [ Book : 1934 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.708)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.708)

  6. Les sylphides - Chopiniana / by John Gregory ; with photographs by Anthony Crickmay ... [et al.]
    Gregory, John, 1914-
    [ Book : 1989 ]
    At 2 libraries
    Les sylphides - Chopiniana / by John Gregory ; with photographs by Anthony Crickmay ... [et al.]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.475)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.475)

  7. Protiv techenii︠a︡ : vospominanii︠a︡ baletmeĭstera : st︠s︡enarii i zamysly baletov, statʹi, intervʹi︠u︡ i pisʹma / M. Fokin ; [sostavlenie I︠U︡.I. Slonimskiĭ, G.N. Dobrovolʹskai︠a︡, pri uchastii P.S. Linde ... et al.]
    Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942
    [ Book : 1981 ]
    Languages: Russian
    At Edith Cowan Uni
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.853)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.853)

  8. [Fokine and dancers in the wings, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, 1938-1939] Enid T. Dickson
    Dickson, Enid T. L., 1895-1967
    [ Art work : 1938-1939 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    [Fokine and dancers in the wings, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, 1938-1939] Enid T. Dickson
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.621)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.621)

  9. Serge Grigoriev, Michel Fokine and Fokine's wife Vera during the Covent Garden Russian Ballet tour [1938 or 1939]
    [ Photograph : 1938-1939 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Serge Grigoriev, Michel Fokine and Fokine's wife Vera during the Covent Garden Russian Ballet tour [1938 or 1939]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.054)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.054)

  10. Michael Fokine and Tatiana Riabouchinska taking a curtain call for Le Coq d'or / J. Donderer
    Donderer, J
    [ Photograph : 1939 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    Michael Fokine and Tatiana Riabouchinska taking a curtain call for Le Coq d'or / J. Donderer
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.886)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.886)

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  1. Spessivtseva, Olga (1895-1991)
    ... direction of Michel Fokine, and in 1932 with the Camargo Society, London, where ...
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0)

  1. Papillons (Australian context)
    Papillons (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 8 items.

    Papillons, a ballet in one act choreographed by Michel Fokine to an arrangement by N. Tcherepnine of music by Robert Schumann, was first performed at the Maryinsky Theatre St Petersburg on...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

  2. Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor (Australian context)
    Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 20 items.

    The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor was choreographed by Michel Fokine for the first Paris season of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in 1909. Based on the second act of the opera Princ...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

  3. Cendrillon (Australian context)
    Cendrillon (Australian context)
    Created by NLAdance, 12 items.

    The Cinderella fairy tale has inspired many notable ballets. Michel Fokine's Cendrillon, based on the 1697 version of the tale ...

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

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  1. Website: Australia dancing
    www.australiadancing.org
    Matching pages:
    View 214 matching archived pages
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.235)

  2. Website: Dance informa
    www.danceinforma.com
    Matching pages:
    • Fokine's Five Principals - 25/6/2009
    • ... By ChoreoCraft Michel Fokine (1880-1942) Revolutionary and visionary choreographer What a night it was! The Royal Ballet...
    View 11 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.023)

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  3. Website: Michelle Potter on dancing
    michellepotter.org
    Matching pages:
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  1. Petrouchka / written by C.W. Beaumont ; decorated by Michel Sevier
    Beaumont, Cyril W. (Cyril William), 1891-1976
    [ Book : 1919 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.062)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.062)

  2. The Firebird / [text by Vladislav Stanovský]
    Maňásek, Luděk
    [ Book : 1969-1970 ]
    Languages: English, Russian
    At 3 libraries
    The Firebird / [text by Vladislav Stanovský]
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  3. Anthropology of the performing arts : artistry, virtuosity, and interpretation in a cross-cultural perspective / Anya Peterson Royce
    Royce, Anya Peterson
    [ Book : 2004 ]
    At 9 libraries
    Anthropology of the performing arts : artistry, virtuosity, and interpretation in a cross-cultural perspective / Anya Peterson Royce
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

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  4. F. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest present Aphrodite : a romance of ancient Egypt / play by Pierre Frondaie and George C. Hazelton ; founded on the novel, Pierre Louys ; story novelized by William A. Page ; book illustrated by Carl Link
    Page, William A
    [ Book : 1919 ]
    At State Library S Aust
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    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

  1. Daphnis and Chloe / Maurice Ravel
    Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937
    [ Printed music : 1910-1989 ]
    Languages: French, Undetermined
    At 13 libraries
    Daphnis and Chloe / Maurice Ravel
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.289)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.289)

  2. Pétrouchka; Petrushka; Petrouchka (Choreographic work : Fokine)
    Stravinsky, Igor
    [ Printed music : 1912 ]
    Languages: zxx
    View online
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.129)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.129)

  3. Les sylphides : a romantic reverie in one act / by Michel Fokine ; scenery by Prince A. Schervachidze after Corot ; music by Chopin ; arranged for pianoforte by Leo Bartels ; revised by Antal Dorati
    Chopin, Frédéric, 1810-1849
    [ Printed music : 1940 ]
    Languages: French, English
    View online
    At 8 libraries
    Les sylphides : a romantic reverie in one act / by Michel Fokine ; scenery by Prince A. Schervachidze after Corot ; music by Chopin ; arranged for pianoforte by Leo Bartels ; revised by Antal Dorati
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.078)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.078)

  4. Daphnis et Chloe : ballet en un acte de Michel Fokine : partition d'orchestre
    Ravel, Maurice
    [ Printed music : 1913 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.074)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.074)

  1. Tatiana Riabouchinska in costume fo...
    Fokine, Michel,...
    [ Photograph : 1930-1939 ]
    Tatiana Riabouchinska in costume for Paganini, Ballets Russes
  2. David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchi...
    Georges, S
    [ Photograph : 1930-1935 ]
    David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchinska in Le spectre de la rose, Ballets Russes / S. Georges, London
  3. Irina Baronova and Anton Dolin in T...
    Fokine, Michel,...
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    Irina Baronova and Anton Dolin in The firebird, Original Ballet Russe Australian tour
  4. Serge Grigoriev, Michel Fokine and ...
    [ Photograph : 1938-1939 ]
    Serge Grigoriev, Michel Fokine and Fokine's wife Vera during the Covent Garden Russian Ballet tour [1938 or 1939]
  5. [Fokine and dancers in the wings, C...
    Dickson, Enid T...
    [ Art work : 1938-1939 ]
    [Fokine and dancers in the wings, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, 1938-1939] Enid T. Dickson
  6. Nijinski dans le "Spectre de la ros...
    Bakst, Lev Samu...
    [ Photograph : 1911 ]
    Nijinski dans le "Spectre de la rose", dans un costume de Léon Bakst
  1. 1920s-1970 Vladimir Heifetz
    Heifetz, Vladimir1900-1970
    [ Unpublished ]
    View online
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  2. Papers of Tamara Finch
    Finch, Tamara, 1919-
    [ Unpublished : 1911-2004 ]
    At National Library
    Papers of Tamara Finch
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  1. BALLET GENIUS DEAD Michel Fokine
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Monday 24 August 1942 p 7 Article
    ... r BALLET 'GENIUS DEAD Michel Fokine Michel Fokine, whose death at the age of 62, is reported by ... graphic director of the company. Latei. Fokine toured the Continent,, and two years later he was the ... Fokine also arranged ballets for "Hassan" and the Drury Lane production of "A Midsummer Wight's Dream." ... 575 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.42)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.42)

  2. MICHEL FOKINE DIES IN NEW YORK NEW YORK, Sunday
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 24 August 1942 p 3 Article Illustrated
    ... MICHEL FOKINE DIES IN NEW YORK NEW YORK, Sunday The death has occurred of Michel Fokine, the famous choreographer. Fokine was born at St Petersburg on April 26, 1880, the son of a mer- chant with ... worked for years with Fokine. Foklne was the creator of modern Russian ballet, the man who revolu- ... 258 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.743)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.743)

  3. MICHEL FOKINE IN SYDNEY. FAMOUS FIGURE IN BALLET. Creating New Work.
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 27 December 1938 p 10 Article
    ... t MICHEL FOKINE ? IN SYDNEY. FAMOUS FIGURE IN BALLET.?",,,/ ' Creating New Work. Michel Fokine who Is one of the most famous figures in the history of ballet arrived lived in Sydney Yesterday by the Monterey. He will at once begin lehcarsils at the Thcitie Rojal foi the new ballet he is «eating ... 819 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.381)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.381)

  1. Fokine, Michel
    The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.
    [ Article : 2000 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.311)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.311)

  2. Michel Fokine
    Garafola, Lynn
    Dance Magazine
    [ Article : 1986 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.306)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.306)

  3. Fokine in Warsaw, 1908-1914. (Michel Fokine)
    Pudelek, Janina
    Dance Chronicle
    [ Photograph, Article : 1992 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.248)

  4. Fokine marvellous.(the choreography of Michel Fokine)(Column)
    Sennett, Richard
    New Statesman (1996)
    [ Article : 2000 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.185)