Vera Sabina in Sylphide, 1927

Ritratto fotografico della ballerina Vera Savina (Vera Clark) in costume di scena per il balletto Sylphide, 1927. | src Libreria antiquaria Gonelli
Ritratto fotografico della ballerina Vera Savina (Vera Clark) in costume di scena per il balletto Sylphide, 1927. | src Libreria antiquaria Gonelli

Al verso della fotografia timbri della ‘Casa d’Arte Bragaglia’ e della ‘Rivista Popolo d’Italia’, insieme ad una annotazione manoscritta, parzialmente errata, nella quale si legge il nome della Savina.

La celebre ballerina inglese (Vera Clark, in arte Savina) lavorò a Mosca nel corpo di ballo dei Ballets Russes di Diaghilev e sposò Léonide Massine (Myasin), altro grande coreografo russo. È ripresa seduta nell’atto in indossare una scarpetta. L’acconciatura, il costume di scena, il gioiello ed il bracciolo della sedia corrispondono esattamente a quelli con cui la ritrasse il pittore scozzese Herbert James Gunn nel quadro ‘Sylphide‘ (1927 – collezione privata).

On the back of the photograph, stamps of the ‘Casa d’Arte Bragaglia’ and ‘Rivista Popolo d’Italia’, together with a handwritten annotation, partially incorrect, in which the name of Savina can be read.

The famous English dancer (Vera Clark, aka Savina) worked in Moscow in the ballet troupe of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and married Léonide Massine (Myasin), another great Russian choreographer. She is shown sitting in the act of wearing a shoe. The hairstyle, the stage costume, the jewel and the armrest of the chair correspond exactly to those with which the Scottish painter Herbert James Gunn portrayed her in the painting ‘Sylphide‘ (1927 – private collection).

Sally Long by A.C. Johnston

Alfred Cheney Johnston (1884-1971) :: Sally Long in “The Midnight Rounders” at Broadway, 1921. Vintage gelatin silver print. | src Ader
Alfred Cheney Johnston :: Sally Long. Duotone portrait. Published in Photoplay magazine (Jan. 1919). | src internet archive

Aud Egede Nissen, ca. 1917

Aud Egede Nissen (Egede Nissen, aka Aud Richter). German postcard by Verl. Herm. Leiser, Berlin-Wilm, nº 5336. Photo by Becker & Maass, Berlin-W. | src Truus, Bob & Jan

Anita Berber, ca. 1918

Zander & Labisch, Anita Berber, 1918, Die Dame
Zander & Labisch :: Actress and dancer Anita Berber dancing. Published in ‘Die Dame’ 06-1918. | src and hi-res Getty Images
Anita Berber,   (*10.06.1899-10.11.1928+)  , Dancer, actress, Germany, dancing, - published in 'Dame' 06/1918  (Photo by ullstein bild via Getty Images)
German dancer and actress Anita Berber dancing, published in Die Dame 06/1918 (Photographed probably by Zander and Labisch; uncredited on source) | src Getty Images

“Eine Tänzerin voll Frische und voll lebendigen Glücks an ihrem Dasein”: Enthusiastisch pries ein Journalist des “Börsen-Kurier” 1917 das Talent Anita Berbers. Auch der Berliner Autor und Kritiker Oscar Bie war beeindruckt: “Das Stärkste wird in reiner Akrobatik erreicht, in groteskem Zittern, Verschlingen, Schlagen, Werfen, Überschneiden”, schrieb er über Berber.

“A dancer full of freshness and full of lively happiness in her existence”: a journalist from the “Börsen-Kurier” enthusiastically praised Anita Berber’s talent in 1917. The Berlin author and critic Oscar Bie was also impressed: “The strongest is achieved in pure acrobatics, in grotesque trembling, devouring, hitting, throwing, overlapping,” he wrote of Berber.

quoted from Der Spiegel: Anita Berber – die Hohepriesterin des Lasters

becker und maass anita berber postcard
Becker & Maass (Berlin) :: Tänzerin und Schauspielerin Anita Berber (1899-1928). Postkarte. | src Welt.de

Teerose, Alles aus Liebe, 1928

Madame d’Ora :: Schauspielerin und Tänzerin La Jana. Das ‘Teerose’ in der Wiener Revue ‘Alles aus Liebe’, 1928 | Actress and dancer La Jana. The ‘Tea Rose’ in the Viennese revue ‘Alles aus Liebe’, 1928 | Aufnahme: d’Ora (Dora Kallmus) | src and hi-res Getty Images

Josephine Baker by d’Ora 1927

Josephine Baker, Folies Bergere, ca. 1926. Non attributed photographer on source. (detail) | src getty images
Atelier d’Ora ~ Tänzerin und Sängerin Josephine Baker in einem roten Tüllkleid des französischen Modeschöpfers Jean Patou. Die Dame 14/1927. Aufnahme: Madame d’Ora (Dora Kallmus) | Josephine Baker in a red tulle dress by Jean Patou. | src getty images
Josephine Baker, Folies Bergere, ca. 1926. Non attributed photographer on source. Probably from this photoshoot with Kallmus. | src getty images

Rowe Sisters, Die Dame, 1927

Madame d’Ora :: Rowe Sisters. Revuegirls von Casino de Paris in Tüllkleidern mit Pailettener schienen. Die Dame 24/1927. | Showgirls from Casino de Paris in tulle dresses with sequins. Die Dame 24/1927. | src and hi-res Getty Images