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Friday, June 10, 2005
an Ashley Dukes quote
Quoted by his wife, Marie Rambert, in her autobiography 'Quicksilver' [Macmillan 1972, p116] from Ashley Dukes' play 'The Man with a Load of Mischief':
"Men reason to strengthen their own prejudices and not to disturb their adversaries' convictions".
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'Quicksilver' is written throughout with lively humour - Marie Rambert is always generous to others and always modest. She also had a real gift for anecdotes, usually ending with a great punch-line.
Her achievements are legible in the book , but there's no cockiness. There's no disguising the many difficulties she faced, but no complaining, no excuses, no defensive tactics. She sees the virtues in her colleagues, is aware of her faults.
She was open minded about dancing, not a purist, nor a partisan. She admired isadora Duncan. She practised Dalcrozian Eurythmics and then she became a Diaghilev dancer. She worked with Nijinsky on his great modernist ballets. Though she doesnt say so, it's clear that she made a significant contribution to them. She tells how, while on the ship, travelling to South America with the Diaghilev company, she didnt realise quite how much she was in love with Nijinsky, until he suddenly married Romola.
Shortly after this, WWI brought her to England and there she was one of the creators of British modern ballet. She taught many of the most significant dancers and choreographers and gave them opportunities to produce new works. What it all came down to was love of her art and sticking at it, without cheapening it at any point by chasing after money or public adulation. What a pleasure to hear about this life, after reading Grace Moore's book.
"Men reason to strengthen their own prejudices and not to disturb their adversaries' convictions".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Quicksilver' is written throughout with lively humour - Marie Rambert is always generous to others and always modest. She also had a real gift for anecdotes, usually ending with a great punch-line.
Her achievements are legible in the book , but there's no cockiness. There's no disguising the many difficulties she faced, but no complaining, no excuses, no defensive tactics. She sees the virtues in her colleagues, is aware of her faults.
She was open minded about dancing, not a purist, nor a partisan. She admired isadora Duncan. She practised Dalcrozian Eurythmics and then she became a Diaghilev dancer. She worked with Nijinsky on his great modernist ballets. Though she doesnt say so, it's clear that she made a significant contribution to them. She tells how, while on the ship, travelling to South America with the Diaghilev company, she didnt realise quite how much she was in love with Nijinsky, until he suddenly married Romola.
Shortly after this, WWI brought her to England and there she was one of the creators of British modern ballet. She taught many of the most significant dancers and choreographers and gave them opportunities to produce new works. What it all came down to was love of her art and sticking at it, without cheapening it at any point by chasing after money or public adulation. What a pleasure to hear about this life, after reading Grace Moore's book.
Posted by: Tony Green / 11:36 PM 
