Genie mask, designed by Andre Derain for Les Ballets 1933

Les Ballets 1933, the avant-garde ballet company, performed briefly in Paris and London in 1933 before disbanding. Fastes, one of seven ballets, staged an ancient Roman festival.

The display:
Performance Gallery presents three masks designed by Andre Derain for Fastes, a ballet created for Les Ballets 1933. These are part of a large collection of costume and props for four of the ballets which were donated to Brighton Museum by patron Edward James in 1974.

Find out more

- Consider the performance: as Spectator, as Performer, as Maker
- Les Ballets objects in Brighton Museum's collection
- Find out more about Les Ballets 1933

Les Ballets 1933 - SPECTATOR

	Ballet Programme, 1933. Cover.

It is 1933, and for one short season an avant-garde ballet company bursts into life.

Six new ballets draw on the cream of contemporary talent. Spectators in Paris are astonished at the diversity. In London, reviews are heatedly mixed.

It is Les Ballets 1933. Evolving from the great Russian Ballet tradition, startling new ground is broken by choreographer George Balanchine and artistic director Boris Kochno. Art patron Edward James funds the spectacle.

Les Ballets 1933 - PERFORMER

	Detail, dancers from Fastes at West Dean 1933

"It came at the right time... It erupted like a volcano of art. Derain, Berard, Milhaud, Tchelitchew, Kochno, Weill, Lotte Lenya. It was not to be believed. It was musically, theatrically, the most superb production" Tamara Toumanova, (dancer).

Dancers were challenged by the new ballets. Inspired by Greek and Roman sculpture, Balanchine choreographed an animated frieze for Fastes. He sculpted using the shapes and strengths of the dancers bodies.

"I realised how privileged I was to belong to this moment of creation" Diana Gould (dancer).

Les Ballets 1933 - MAKER

	Set design for Fastes, 1933, Designed by Andre Derain, copy taken from the original programme. Brighton Museum H1a-f

"You cant invent a theatrical costume. You find it all in old books." André Derain conceived the story and designed the innovative set and costumes that brought Fastes to life for Les Ballets 1933.

Fastes celebrates an ancient Roman festival. Derain was inspired by the detail of Etruscan tomb decoration and the hot, luminous air of the Mediterranean.

The designers for Les Ballets 1933 conjured with fantasy, light and illusion to make a profound impact on 20th century theatre design.