International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

Tamara Toumanova, the famous ballet danseuse, in gypsy costume. Born in a snowbound box ear near Toumen, Siberia, during the Red Revolution, this twenty-lwo year old girl is now considered by ballet critics to be the greatest discovery since Anna Pavlowa. Tamara Toumanova Tamara Toumanova made her debut in motion pictures at Warner Bros. Studios where, with Leonide Massine, Alexandra Danilova, Milada Mladova and other ballel slars, the famous Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo company productions "Capriccio Espagnol" ("Spanish Fiesta") and "Gaite Parisienne" ( "The Gay Parisienne" ) , were filmed in Technicolor under the direction of Jean Negulesco, with Ernest Haller, as director of cinematography. Although only 22 years of age, Toumanova is already considered by ballet critics to be the greatest discovery since Anna Pavlowa, many predicting that within two years she will have surpassed Pav Iowa's finesl technique as a ballerina. While her mother, then a girl of 17, was fleeing from the Red Revolution, Toumanova was born in a box car, snowbound near Toumen, Siberia, March 2, 1919. After several desperate years of hunger and privation, they were able to secure passage on a steamer from Shanghai to France, finally locating in Paris where Toumanova's father, a former White Russian cavalry officer, had secured a position. Before she was (>. Toumanova attracted much attention with her dancing and was offered a scholarship at the exclusive dancing school, Academie Michelet. There she came to the attention of the renowned Olga Preobrajenska, famous ballerina and favorite of the Czar, who encouraged the talented child to study art. music and drama, but above all to specialize in ballet in all of its classical forms. The great Preobrajenska. then the "first lady" of the ballet, next brought little Toumanova to the attention of Anna Pavlowa, who immediately insisted on Tamara's appearance with her at the Trocadero. The child's inspired dancing was the sensation of Paris and offers poured in from great international booking agencies. Pavlowa, however, advised her to decline all offers and continue studying, promising the child "some day you will be the greatest dancer the world has ever known!" At the insistence of a powerful French newspaper syndicate, Tamara appeared at a series of performances at the beautiful Pais de Bouillon, Auteuil. at one of which Premiere Poincare and other Cabinet ministers arranged for her to appear as one of the featured attractions at the League of Nations conferences at Geneva. The great French composer Maurice Ravel compo-ed a ballet especially for Toumanova's appearance. Costly g'fts were presented to her and she was acclaimed throughout the cultural centers of the Continent. Returning to Paris, she appeared at the Paris Opera at the request of the French Government, remaining for two years as the show-stopper at each performance. Toumanova was the first ballerina ever recalled for encores by the audiences during the Opera season. When she was 12, Col. W. de Basil organized a new ballet troupe with George Balanchine as director and Toumanova as the star. Balanchine created spe?ial ballets for her and after a record-breaking tour of the Continent, they went to England where Toumanova was received with great ovations at each performance and at the invitation of Her Majestv. gave command performances for the King and Queen of England and the Duke of York, the present King. Toumanova apeared in Amercia for the first time in 1933 while on a world tour (Continued on page 17)