Adolph Bolm collection

circa 1922-1983

Adolph Bolm, born in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 25, 1884, entered the Maryinsky Theatre at age 9. A student of varied interests and talents, he graduated in 1903 with first honors not only in dance but also in music, painting, and literature. From 1904-1909, he partnered the great ballerinas of the Maryinsky, including Anna Pavlova and Tamara Karsavina. Beginning in 1908, he put together a small troupe and toured to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and later Berlin. He also joined Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in its Paris premiere in 1909, creating a stir with his performance of the leading part in Polovtsian Dances.Leaving Russia for good in 1911, he danced for Diaghilev's company until the conclusion of its last American tour in 1917, creating roles such as Dorkon in Daphnis and Chloe,the Moor in Petrouchka,and Prince Ivan in Firebird.He settled in the United States, first working for two seasons as the co-maitre de ballet with Rosina Galli at the Metropolitan Opera. He formed a touring company called Ballet Intime, which in its first season included the Japanese dancer, Michio Ito. The company existed in some form until 1928, its last tour including Agnes de Mille as guest artist. In 1920 he joined the Chicago Opera as choreographer. There he created what many consider the first purely American ballet, Birthday of the Infanta,featuring Ruth Page. In 1923, he opened a school in Chicago, sharing the teaching with two colleagues from the St. Petersburg School. He remained in Chicago until 1930 when he moved to San Francisco to work with the opera there. In his insistence that the San Francisco Opera Association create a school under its auspices and by giving the first all-ballet evenings, Bolm essentially created the San Francisco Ballet. For that troupe he created his Bach Cycleand staged El Amor Brujo,and his last choreography Mephisto.In 1935, he moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a teacher and choreographer in film and concerts. Between 1940 and 1942, he appeared with Ballet Theatre, recreating his roles form Diaghilev's company, including Pierrot in Carnavaland the Blackamoor in Petrouchka.He died in his Hollywood home at age 66, April 16, 1951.