Adolph Bolm
Encyclopedia
Adolph Rudolphovitch Bolm (September 25, 1884 in Saint Petersburg
– April 16, 1951) was a Russian born American ballet
dancer and choreographer.
He graduated from the Russian Imperial Ballet School in Saint Petersburg in 1904 (the teacher is Platon Karsavin
), and that same year he became a dancer with Mariinsky Ballet
. In 1908 and 1909 he ran a European tour with Anna Pavlova.
He then collaborated with Diaghilev
's Ballet Russes in Paris, along with several other dancers from Mariinsky. In 1916 Diaghilev decided to tour the USA. While on tour Bolm was injured and left the tour to stay in the US. He went on to organize Ballet Intime in New York
. Later he collaborated with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Bolm and dancer Ruth Page
appeared together in an experimental dance film Danse Macabre (1922) directed by Dudley Murphy
.
In 1919 he moved to Chicago
where he stayed and worked before moving in 1929 to California. He continued work, staging ballets until 1947.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
– April 16, 1951) was a Russian born American ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and choreographer.
He graduated from the Russian Imperial Ballet School in Saint Petersburg in 1904 (the teacher is Platon Karsavin
Platon Karsavin
Platon Karsavin was a dancer with the Russian Imperial Ballet.His father was a provincial actor, but the family had three children; and to feed his family, he became a tailor and moved to St. Petersburg. When Platon was 6 years old his father died. The family was again left without money...
), and that same year he became a dancer with Mariinsky Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
. In 1908 and 1909 he ran a European tour with Anna Pavlova.
He then collaborated with Diaghilev
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
's Ballet Russes in Paris, along with several other dancers from Mariinsky. In 1916 Diaghilev decided to tour the USA. While on tour Bolm was injured and left the tour to stay in the US. He went on to organize Ballet Intime in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Later he collaborated with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Bolm and dancer Ruth Page
Ruth Page
Ruth Page was an American ballerina and choreographer, considered a pioneer in creating works on American themes. To the classical ballet vocabulary she added movements from sports, popular dance and everyday gestures....
appeared together in an experimental dance film Danse Macabre (1922) directed by Dudley Murphy
Dudley Murphy
Dudley Murphy was an American film director. Murphy was born on July 10, 1897 in Winchester, Massachusetts...
.
In 1919 he moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where he stayed and worked before moving in 1929 to California. He continued work, staging ballets until 1947.