Point shoe worn by Nina Verchinina as Action in Leonide Massine's ballet "Les Presages". Signed, inscribed and dated 1934.

Satin point shoe dyed dull scarlet, worn on left foot, darned, with ribbons attached and the vamp extended by addition of petersham ribbon. Size 13, with scored sole, made by Elmina (Paris). Inscribed on inner sole: "NINA VERCHININA / ACTION PRESAGES / 11 AUGUST 1934", on inner side: "TO MR C W BEAUMONT / N. V." and on sole "TO MR BEAUMONT"

Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest

One of a collection of signed ballet shoes given by various dancers to the dance critic and historian Cyril Beaumont.
The shoe was worn by the Russian ballerina Nina Verchinina as Action in Leonide Massine's symphonic ballet "Les Présages", the controversial work set to Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony premiered by the De Basil Ballets Russes in 1933. Verchinina's role combined classical ballet with a freer form of 'modern' movement, one of the first times the styles had been combined in a classically based ballet.
The soles of ballet shoes were often scored, either by the manufacturer or the dancers, to give improved grip on stage.
The shoe came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest.

Historical significance: An example of a French ballet shoe of the first half of the 20th century. Ballet shoes made in different countries are indicative of the different needs of the dancers and the choreography of the time.
The ballet shoe is the most personal of dance aretfacts, as each dancer is responsible for darning and stitching on the ribbons to suit her own personal preferences and each dancer 'wears' out the shoe in a different way, according to her physique and the role. The dancer darning shoes is a potent image in 20th century dance iconography, a symbol of at once her drugery and humility.
A shoe worn by a great dancer in a particular role on a certain night (such as a premiere) and signed, dated, and dedicated to the recepient, implying that the recepient was with the dancer at the time, attains almost iconic significance for balletomanes.

S.802A-1981