Testimonies
& Critics

Serge Lido

Serge Lido (1906-1984) was one of the greatest photographers on Dance from the 20th century. Born in Moscow and established later with his wife Irène Lidova in Paris, he reached international notoriety for his extensive photographic work, and through his multiple journeys on Europe, to cover Dance’s greatest events on the last century, from the 40’s decade onwards.

To him we owe the most beautiful pictures of the greatest contemporary dancers, taken with a superb precision that enhances their beauty, and setting thus one of the greatest graphic testimonies from Dance’s contemporary history. His photos were published on London and Paris’most prestigious specialized magazines and his annual albums are part of amateurs’ most precious collections. Always together with Irène Lidova’ commentaries, they bring us the most valuable information of dancers, choreographers and international dance companies, and of the outstanding events of their time. All that, upon a world we would dare to think of as in extinction, because the glory of XXth century’s Classical Dance shall never return.

We think the best way to express our acknowledgment to Serge Lido and Irène Lidova is to extract some photos of Wladimir Skouratoff with their commentaries from the annual albums, for their invaluable testimonial and historical significance; we also want to mention that the greatest part of the illustrations of our work belong to Serge Lido, as we indicate on each case.

From Danse N°3 (1949):

Wladimir Skouratoff on the terrace of the Palais de Chaillot. Wladimir Skouratoff studied with Russian masters in Paris. Owes his artistic formation to Boris Kniaseff and Serge Lifar. He made his debut as partner to Janine Charrat in one of her recitals. Engaged by the “Nouveau Ballet de Monte Carlo”, he interpreted the chief roles of many ballets. He then appeared in the “Ballet Russe du Colonel De Basil” and danced with Renée Jeanmaire in London in 1948. Engaged by Roland Petit, he received a very warm welcome during the season of the “Ballets de Paris”at the Théâtre Marigny. He accompanied these ballets on all their tours during the season of 1948-1949.

 

Wladimir Skouratoff and Roland Petit rehearsing in “Adame Miroir”, Ballet of Jean Genêt. Choreography: Janine Charrat. Musique: Darius Milhaud. Scenery and costumes: Delvaux. Created at the Théâtre Marigny in June 1948 by the “Ballets de Paris”.

From Ballet N°1 (1951):

Yvette Chauviré and Wladimir Skouratoff in the “Grand Pas-de-deux Classique”. Musique : Auber. Choreography: Victor Gsovsky. Costumes: Pierre Balmain. First produced at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées , November 1949.

 

Wladimir Skouratoff in “L’Ecuyère”. Ballet by Constantin Nepo, after Kafka. Music: Joseph Kosma. Scenery: Nepo. Choreography: Serge Lifar (Created February 21st, 1948 at the “Soirée chorégraphique” Salle Pleyel)

From Ballet N°2 (1951):

Yvette Chauviré and Wladimir Skouratoff, as Juliet and Romeo
in Florence Gardens in May 1951.

 

Jacqueline Moreau and Wladimir Skouratoff in “Revanche”, produced by the “Ballets des Champs-Elysées”. Ballet by Ruth Page; music: Verdi;scenery and costumes: Antoni Clavé; choreography: Ruth Page. First given October 16, 1951 at the Empire Theatre, Paris.

 

Rosella Hightower and Wladimir Skouratoff in “Coup de Feu”.Book: A.-M.Cassandre; music Georges Auric; scenery And costumes: A.-M.Cassandre. Choreography: Aurel Miloss. First produced by the “Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas”, May 7, 1952.

Fom Ballet N°3 (1953):

Jacqueline Moreau and Wladimir Skouratoff in “Tertulia”. First given by the “Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas” December 11, 1952 at the Empire Theatre, Paris. Ballet by Ana Ricarda and Irène Lidova. Music by Manuel Infante. Scenery and costumes by Capuletti. Choreography by Ana Ricarda.

 

Rosella Hightower, Wladimir Skouratoff and Oleg Sabline after the performance of “L’Aigrette” at the Casino-Theatre in Cannes,
February 1953.

From Ballet N°5 (1955):

Jacqueline Moreau and Wladimir Skouratoff in “Duo”. Ballet by Marquis de Cuevas. Music by Alexander Scriabine. Decor by Dan Snyder. Choreography by Paul Goubé. First given at the Sarah-Bernhardt Theatre on October 5, 1954.

 

Jacqueline Moreau and Wladimir Skouratoff in “Scarlattiana”, first given by the “Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas” on November 26, 1954 at the Theatre Sarah-Bernhardt. Music by Casella on a theme by Scarlatti. Decor et costumes by Gino Severini. Choreography by Wladimir Skouratoff.

 

“Boléro”. Music by Maurice Ravel. Decor and costumes by Nathalie Gontcharova. Choreography by Bronislawa Nijinska. Revived by the “Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas at the Theatre Sarah-Bernhardt on November 12, 1954. (On this photo, Marjorie Tallchief, Wladimir Skouratoff and the corps de ballet.)

 

Back cover: Genia Melikowa and Wladimir Skouratoff, stars of the “Grand Ballet of the Marquis de Cuevas” in “Achille”. *

* “Achille”, first given by the “Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas” on March 12, 1955 at Cannes Casino Theatre. Story by Marquis de Cuevas. Music by François de la Rochefoucauld. Decors by Roger Pellerin. Costumes by Abdelkader Farrah. Choreography by George Skibine. Principal dancers: Wladimir Skouratoff, Denise Burgeois, Génia Melikowa, Yvonne Meyer, Michel Reznikoff.

On this album’ last pages, Irène Lidova writes on “A Ballet season”: “Wladimir Skouratoff, star of the year, was in turn the nervous hidalgo in “Bolero”, the bubbling Harlequin in “Scarlattiana” for which he did the choreography, and finally the blazing “Achilles” full of virile ardour and fierce beauty.”