[BALLET] Australian Children's Theatre presents Algeranoff, Algeranova and Ronald Reay in ""Stories in Dance"". (Signed programme)

Kew, Vic. : Australian Children's Theatre, [1954]. Single sheet (205 x 185 mm), printed recto only, with vignette photographic portraits of Harcourt Algeranoff (1903-1967), Claudie Algeranova (1924- ) and Ronald Reay; autographed by each of the three dancers in black crayon; original vertical fold, in very good condition. In 1954-55 Joan and Betty Rayner's Melbourne-based non-profit travelling theatre toured ""Stories in Dance"" around Australia, visiting many regional and outback centres with the intention of bringing classical ballet to young Australians who may never have had the chance to see a live performance before. The performing troupe consisted of English dancer Harcourt Algeranoff, his French wife, Claudie Algeranova, and New Zealand dancer Ronald Reay. During the tour, Algeranova left Alegeranoff for Reay. (R. J. Southey, in his ADB entry on Algeranoff, observes that 'the marriage did not survive the propinquity of three dancers in a caravan....'). 'Ballet dancer and choreographer Harcourt Algernon Leighton Essex was most famous for partnering Anna Pavlova. He was born on April 18, 1903 in London. He danced under the name of Harcourt Algeranoff and began his career as a character soloist. He toured Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Anna Pavlova's dance company from 1921 until Pavlova's death in 1931. Algeranoff adopted Pavlova's dance philosophy of blending conventional ballet with multi-cultural and ethnic dances. In addition to traditional Western dance, he studied Japanese and Indian dancing. He partnered Pavlova in Russian Dance and impressed audiences with his performances in Oriental Impressions and Don Quixote. In the years following Pavlova's death, Algeranoff was a member of several dance companies, including the Dandré-Levitoff Company, the Markova-Dolin Ballet, and De Basil's Ballets Russes. He also choreographed for the International Ballet Company and the Carl Rosa Opera Company. During the 1950s he served as ballet master for the Norwegian State Opera and Ballet Company, the Borovansky Ballet Company (Australia), and the North-West Victorian Ballet Society (Australia). In 1945 Algeranoff married French dancer Claudie Léonard. They had a son, Nöel. Claudie later left Algeranoff to marry New Zealand dancer Ronald Reay. Harcourt Algeranoff died in an auto accident near Robinvale, Victoria in Australia on April 7, 1967.' (University of California, Irvine Libraries)