Loading...
Creator
Garafola, Lynn
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 519
Physical description
1.3 linear feet (1 box)
Language
Multiple languages; French and English, with some Italian.
Preferred Citation
Jacques Rouché collection, (S) *MGZMD 519. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Jacques Rouché (1862-1957) was a French theater patron who managed the Théâtre des Arts (now Theatre Hébertot) and Paris Opera. He is recognized for his contributions in modernizing French theater and dance in the 20th century. The Jacques Rouché collection primarily documents Rouché's tenure at the Théâtre des Arts with articles about productions he staged, with emphasis on ballet. The collection also traces Rouché's career as manager of the Paris Opera, as well as activity at the Alhambra Theatre in London.

Biographical/historical information

Jacques Rouché (1862-1957) was a French theater patron who managed the Théâtre des Arts (now Theatre Hébertot) and Paris Opera. He rented the Théâtre des Arts for three seasons starting in 1910, immediately establishing a radical program. Rouché staged adaptations of The Brothers Karamazov as well as operas not performed in France for over a century. At this time, ballet had lost popularity in Western Europe, being performed mostly at music halls such as the Alhambra Theatre in London. But after seeing the Ballets Russes in Paris, Rouché devoted the 1912 season to dance. Several ballets were performed, including Adélaïde, ou le langage des fleurs and Ma mère l'Oye by Maurice Ravel. Critics took interest in these ballets and Rouché's other productions, reflected in reviews from publications like Comoedia Illustre, Le Figaro, and Le Théâtre. During his tenure, Rouché worked directly with Maurice Ravel and Hungarian dancer Sahary-Djeli. He brought his forward-thinking attitude to the Paris Opera in 1914, which he managed until 1945. In 1929 after the dissolution of the Ballets Russes, Rouché helped restore dance to the forefront of French theatre by hiring dancer and choreographer Serge Lifar. He also wrote several essays about costume and set design during his career, and staged dances from around the world at the Paris Opera. Today, Rouché is recognized as having modernized French theater in the 20th century.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of research materials collected by dance historian Lynn Garafola. It primarily documents two subjects: Rouché's career as manager of the Théâtre des Arts from 1910-1913, and activity at the Alhambra Theatre in London from 1884-1911. The vast majority of items in the collection are photocopies or typescript articles. The Théâtre des Arts materials largely comprise theater reviews, with emphasis on ballets performed in 1912 and 1913. The collection also contains articles and essays that document Rouché's career after the Théâtre des Arts. The Alhambra Theatre materials do not directly pertain to Rouché. They consist of production programs and news clippings about the Theatre, again with emphasis on ballet. Finally, the collection contains several miscellaneous items about dancers Hubert Stowitts and Anna Pavlova, Spanish, Indian and Latin American dance, and Leni Riefenstahl.

Arrangement

Received order is maintained. New folders are provided for items that were in three-ring binders.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Lynn Garafola, 2019.

Processing information

Processed by Nathan Evans in 2020.

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