BALLET
THE Governors of Sadler's Wells, in association with the Arts Council, have done well to present the Ballet Rambert for a season at the Sadler's Wells theatre to celebrate twenty years of arduous formation work on the part of Marie Rambert in whose school and ballet company so many of the most important figures associated with our English national ballet have been trained, and have found their earliest opportunities of expression both as dancers and choreographers. Diaghilev said that after the Russians " the English have by far the greatest aptitude and some day in the future they will form their own school." Well, that day has come and it has come within twenty-five years of Diag,hikv's great aesthetic revolution which created the modem art of ballet. The whole country is now ballet-conscious, and Marie Rambert's own company has for the past two years been touring the provinces with the success she deserves.
For the opening night after the charming Soiree Musicale, music of Rossini, arranged by Britten, decor by Hugh Stevenson, and choreo- graphy by Anthony Tudor, the revival of Lady Into Fox confirmed my impression that this human and original ballet is a perfect example of how much a small company, working in a little theatre like the Mercury, can contribute when under skilled artistic,direction. It was one of the first in which the choreographer. Andree Howard showed the talent since displayed for the Sadler's Wells company in Le Festin d'Araignie and Assembly Ball " and revealed in Sally Gilmour an exquisite dancer with an individual' style. Miss Gilmour also danced delightfully as Pretty Polly in the new ballet in five scenes, " Mr. Punch," in which Walter Gore, who has been in the Navy, made his return as choreographer and dancer. This gay and witty ballet with scenery and costumes by Ronald Wilson and music by Arthur Oldham is a distinct success, and Mr. Gore's grave but light malignity as Mr. Punch made a real impression.
JAMES REDFERN.
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