Recent Gems

Exciting Items Recently Added to Archive

Check this page often to see photographs and descriptions of fun and exciting new items recently added to the Ailina Dance Archives.

Alicia Markova Autographed Pointe shoes, 1952

Pointe shoes autographed and once worn by ballerina Alicia Markova in a performance of Giselle, dated 1952. Gift of Ms. Irma Grant Millard, a former dancer with Ballet Theatre from 1949 to 1954.
Irma's first performances with Ballet Theatre were as a teenager during their 1949 season at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. She was with the company during the major tour of Europe in 1950 and over the next few years performed roles in Balanchine's Theme & Variations, Les Sylphides, Graduation Ball, Fall River Legend, Rodeo, Billy the Kid, and many others. After leaving Ballet Theatre, she went on to perform as a dancer for a wide variety of shows at the original Sahara casino in Las Vegas before opening her own ballet school in Pennsylvania.
During my visit, Irma shocked me with a gift of Alicia Markova's autographed pointe shoes given to Irma by Markova herself. In 1952, after a performance of Giselle starring Markova, Irma and her dancer friends went to the star's dressing room where Markova graciously posed for a photograph and gave her worn pointe shoes to Irma. The autograph may be faded from time, but time will not erase my sincere appreciation of this generous gift and the magnificence of the shoes.

Alexandra Danilova Autographed pointe shoes, 1958

NEW ADDITION TO THE COLLECTION! That came with a love story...
Pointe shoes autographed and once worn by ballerina Alexandra "Choura" Danilova dated 1958. Received from the family of Barney Finkelstein.

"My father was Barney (J. Barnett Finkelstein). He LOVED ballet, always enjoyed going to ballets in NYC or Philadelphia in his youth. From what was told to me, my father would travel from Philly to NYC to see Alexandra perform. He was in medical school for Radiology at the University Of Pennsylvania and he graduated in 1960. I know they had some sort of relationship but I am not sure of the details or seriousness of it. He would see her perform and then they would go to the beach together for a day or two. He spoke very fondly of her and was definitely captivated by her at the time. They had an age difference of 31 years I think...which is surprising! One story was that he once fell into the Orchestra Pit after one of her performances, due to his exuberant clapping!! I am not surprised by this at all...I hope these shoes are enjoyed by many! "

photographs from the paul Szilard papers

In memory of Paul Szilard who passed away on July 26, 2013 in New York City.
Left: Mr. Szilard is pictured in between Allegra Kent and Melissa Hayden at a press conference during an early tour of the New York City Ballet in Tokyo, Japan. Gift of Paul Szilard.

Below, Mr. Szilard was photographed with Cyril Atanasoff and Alicia Alonso backstage by Serge Lido in 1972. Gift of Paul Szilard.