Vintage Ballerinas

My mom is the best! At age 79, she still goes to yard sales and flea markets searching for vintage clothing and other goodies, which she then sells to dealers or from her occasional booths at the local swap meet. Yesterday was my birthday, and I was thrilled to receive a box from mom in the mail on Friday, as boxes from mom always contain fun surprises. For my birthday, mom sent a stack of vintage magazines including several programs from the Ballet Theatre (later to become the American Ballet Theatre) and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from the 1940's and 50's. The programs are full of the most wonderful photos of the principal dancers, as well as unusual scenery designs by such artists as Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall. Swoon!!!!!!!!

I can't just tell you about my gift without sharing, so here for your enjoyment are some portraits of prima ballerinas. Aren't they beautiful?

Nora Kaye, principal ballerina for the Ballet Theatre, 1945. Portrait by Maurice Seymour.

Nora Kaye as Odile in the "Black Swan", 1954.

Irina Baronova, principal ballerina for the Ballet Theatre, 1942.

Alicia Markova, principal ballerina for the Ballet Theatre, 1942 as Giselle.

Nathalie Krassovska, principal ballerina for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1940.

Mia Slavenska, principal ballerina for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1940.

Tamara Toumanova, principal ballerina for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1940.

Alexandra Danilova, principal ballerina for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1940.

Anyone want to the the male dancers???????

I'll share more from these programs in the coming weeks. There is lots to see. Thanks, mom!

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