Posed photograph by Sasha London taken on stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, of Alexandra Danilova as the Lady in Le Bal, performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1929. Danilova is not wearing the wig which is part of her costume in this photograph. Danilova's pose evokes the angular use of the arms that was a choreographic device for her role.

In the prologue guests arrive at a ball. A young man is struck by the beauty of a lady accompanied by an astrologer who he follows. At the ball the guests are entertained by Spanish and Italian dances. The beauty is persuaded to unmask and is seen as an elderly woman who pursues the young man. After further dancing the lady, again masked, and astrologer return and together they remove their disguises. The woman successively removes two masks, changing from crone to young beauty and the astrologer without mark and beard is revealed as her handsome partner. The young man watches the couple leave while he faints with disappointment.

Le Bal (The Ball), a modern ballet in one act and two scenes had sets and costumes designed Giorgio de Chirico, was created for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Théâtre de Monte Carlo on 7 May 1929. The musical score was by Vittorio Rieti, the narrative by Boris Kochno, after a story by Count Vladimir Sologub, and it was choreographed in 1929 by George Balanchine. The costumes executed under the direction of Mme A. Youkine. The original ballet had 15 performances being presented only during the last season of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Monte Carlo, Paris, Berlin and London where it was first performed on 26 July 1929 also at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.