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Creator
Denham, Sergei, 1896-1970
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 399
Physical description
.25 linear feet (1 box)
Preferred Citation

Sergei Denham papers, Additions, (S) *MGZMD 399. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
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Sergei Denham was a businessman and ballet enthusiast who became the director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The collection holds a handwritten biography of Denham by Michael Subotin, as well as Denham's own writings on ballet history and records from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. There is also manuscript and published sheet music with annotations from Denham's personal collection.

Biographical/historical information

Sergei Denham was a businessman and ballet enthusiast who became the director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. He was born Sergei Ivanovich Dokouchaiev in 1896 in Russia. As a child and a young man, he was an avid pianist. He immigrated to the United States after the Russian revolution in 1921. After arriving in New York, Denham became vice-president at Bankers Trust.

As a ballet enthusiast he became vice-president of World Art (later Universal Art), the American corporation which took over the operation of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1938, following the departure of Leonide Massine. He directed the company for 24 years and founded the Ballet Russe School in New York in 1954.

Sergei Denham died in New York City in 1970.

Scope and arrangement

The Sergei Denham papers, Additions hold a handwritten biography of Denham by Michael Subotin, as well as Denham's own writings on ballet history and records from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. There is also manuscript and published sheet music with annotations from Denham's personal collection.

The Subotin biography includes the Russian original as well as an un-credited English translation. The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo material dates from 1937 and consists of repertory information with details on personnel, artists, and finances, as well as notes on possible contributors and a list of amounts given to the ballet. Writings hold Denham's history of Russian Ballet and other notes on ballet history in French and Russian. Sheet music consists of both original manuscript compositions for piano (many un-credited) as well as annotated, published piano music in English, French, and Russian.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Irina Pabst, 2009.

Processing information

Compiled by Lea Jordan, 2014

Related Material

Sergei Denham Papers, 1918-1936, (S) *MGZMD 179. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. Sergei Denham Records of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, *ZBD-492. 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

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Dance Division at dance@nypl.org.