One of a series of studio photographs of Alexandra Danilova in the costume designed by Georgio de Chirico as the Lady taken by Sasha in London. It is quite probable that these show poses from Danilova’s solo choreographed by George Balanchine. Chirico had suggested that the choreographer base the movements of Le Bal on stylised positions in which artists’ wooden lay figures can be placed giving angular movements to the dancers’ limbs.
Danilova described her costume as ‘modern-painterly, and rather awkward. I wore a dress, not a tutu, and a white wig.’ The costumes were executed under the direction of Mme A.Youkine. Danilova described the choreography as ‘angular, with elbows and knees bent. The steps were very syncopated. On each note, I had somehow to do a double movement’. She continued saying her variation included ‘jumps from fifth to second in the air to fifth again…and a lot of pointe work. The arms were not in classical positions opened out in second or up in third but angular with the elbows and wrists bent. A lot of positions