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Creator
Wallace, Audrey, 1924-
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 294
Physical description
.67 linear feet (2 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Audrey Wagner collection of Anton Dolin memorabilia, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

One of the premier danseurs of the twentieth century, Sir Anton Dolin performed from 1923 to 1961; later choreographed and staged many ballets; wrote; and acted. A friend of Dolin's from 1945 to his death in 1983, Audrey (Wallace) Wagner collected memorabilia documenting his career. The Audrey Wagner collection of Anton Dolin memorabilia documents Dolin's entire professional career, including publicity photographs, press clippings, and programs.

Biographical/historical information

Sir Anton Dolin was one of the twentieth century's premier danseurs, who danced with, and founded, many of the century's premier ballet companies. Born Sydney Francis Patrick Chippenhall Healey-Kay in Sussex, England, on July 27, 1904, he studied with the Russian teacher Serafina Astafieva, who taught Alicia Markova and Margot Fonteyn. Trained as an actor, Dolin also appeared in plays for his entire dance career. He made his theatrical debut at twelve and his professional dance debut at seventeen. Among other companies, he danced with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in the 1920s, and was an original member of the Camargo Society Ballet, and later the Vic-Wells Ballet. While there, he reformed his partnership with Alicia Markova, which would continue for most of the next twenty years.

Formed in 1935, the Markova-Dolin Company dissolved in 1938; Dolin then danced in revues until 1940, when he became the premier danseur of a new company, Ballet Theatre, later American Ballet Theatre. Markova rejoined him in 1941, and they toured together, appearing in Dolin's staging of several ballet classics. They were in the United States for most of World War II, either dancing with the American Ballet Theatre or with their own company under the aegis of Sol Hurok. They appeared in the film A Song for Miss Julie in 1945. In 1949, Dolin returned to London and, again with Markova, founded another company, which would become the London Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet).

Dolin continued to perform as a premier danseur until 1961, when he retired from the London Festival Ballet. He continued as a choreographer, actor and director, staging the classics and his own ballets with many international companies. Dolin wrote six books on dance and a diary for Ballet News for many years. Anton Dolin was working in Paris when he suffered a heart attack and died on November 25, 1983, aged 79.

Audrey M. Wagner (1923-2006), also known as Audrey Wallace, studied dance with Ludmilla Schollar. A friend of Anton Dolin's, she collected memorabilia to document his dance career.

Scope and arrangement

The Audrey Wagner collection of Anton Dolin memorabilia documents Dolin's career from 1928 to his death in 1983 through memorabilia. The bulk of the material dates from 1939 to 1984. The collection is comprised of photographs, programs, and scrapbooks.

The photographs mainly consist of publicity photographs for several ballets, some of which are autographed, dating from 1927-1947. Most of the photographs contain identifying information on the verso. Programs in the collection document performances by Dolin, as well as performances of ballets he choreographed, staged, or those of the company he ran. The programs may also contain ticket stubs and a few are autographed. One program from a Connecticut theatre records Dolin's performance as an actor, while another documents a 1946 tour of the Philippines. Wagner's introduction to Dolin is recorded on a program with the annotation, "met Pat 07/29/1945."

The scrapbooks primarily consist of American and British press clippings, but also include autographs and other memorabilia, such as a printed card of Dolin's father's home. Dolin's career as a dancer is emphasized, with other materials documenting his work as a choreographer, actor, and author. The press clippings have many of Dolin's columns and articles for Ballet Today. Other materials consist of a letter from Edwin Denby and autographs of Anton Dolin and Jerome Robbins.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' dance research collection contains a significant amount of materials related to Anton Dolin. Additional books, programs, photographs, press clippings, as well as audio and video recordings can be found by conducting separate author and subject searches for "Dolin, Anton" in the catalog (www.nypl.org/catalog). When conducting an author search, Dolin will be listed separately as an author, choreographer, dancer, commentator, interviewee, interviewer, narrator, performer, restager, and speaker.

Arrangement

Alphabetical by format.

Administrative information

Custodial history

It appears that Audrey Wagner compiled this collection over an extended period, probably from 1939 until Dolin's death in 1983, with additional material added at a later date. Books, Alicia Markova materials, and a scrapbook documenting Svetlana Beriosova's career were separated from the collection at the time of donation.

Source of acquisition

Bequest of Audrey M. Wagner, 2007.

Processing information

Compiled by Marian H. O'Brian, Palmer School of Library and Information Science 2012.

Prior to processing, the collection consisted of two scrapbooks, a photo album, and a group of programs. The materials were in generally good condition, with the exception of the photo album, which had mold on its paper. The photographs were removed from the album and placed in envelopes in their original order. The few images clipped from newspapers in the album were photocopied on acid-free paper and placed in with the photographs. The programs were arranged in chronological order and rehoused, while the scrapbooks remained intact.

Related Material

Alexandra Danilova papers. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. American Ballet Theatre records. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. Anton Dolin Papers (MS Thr 523). Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard University. Irving Deacon correspondence. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. Irving Deakin papers. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. Serge Diaghilev correspondence. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright retained by any document's creator. Library policy on photocopying will apply. For permission to publish, contact the curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Access restrictions

To request materials, contact the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (dance@nypl.org) in advance.