Marie Rambert

Dame Marie Rambert was a highly influential Polish-born English dancer and pedagogue. A pedagogue is a teacher who specializes in the methods of instruction. She played a vital role in the development of British ballet. Rambert worked both as a performer and as a teacher to shape the art form. Her life spanned from 1888 to 1982. She is remembered for her tireless dedication to finding and nurturing new talent.

Rambert was born Cyvia Rambam to a liberal Lithuanian Jewish family in Warsaw. Her father, Yakov Ramberg, was a merchant, a Hebrew publisher, and a Zionist. The family lived in Congress Poland. To avoid mandatory military service in the Imperial Russian Army, her father and uncles changed their surnames. This was a common practice for Jews in the Russian Empire at that time. Yakov changed his name to Ramberg, while his brothers became Rambert and Warszawski. Cyvia eventually adopted the French form of her name, Marie Rambert. She was the fourth of seven children in her large family.

Her passion for movement began during her early schooling. As a child, she was often restless and moved constantly during class. This behavior resulted in poor marks in school, but a dance instructor noted she possessed a "true spirit of dance." In 1904, her interest in dance shifted from a general activity to a deep passion. This change happened after she attended a performance by Isadora Duncan. Rambert was profoundly moved by the beauty of Duncan's dancing. Later, at a party, she performed a mazurka with such liveliness that she received applause. This moment was noticed by Raymond Duncan, the brother of Isadora.

Rambert pursued rigorous professional training across several European locations. She studied with Madame Rat at the Paris Opera. She also attended Dalcroze College to study eurhythmics. Eurhythmics is a method of teaching musicality through physical movement. While at Dalcroze College, she was spotted by Sergei Diaghilev. He invited her to study with the Ballets Russes in Berlin. From 1912 to 1913, she collaborated with the Ballets Russes. During this time, she assisted Vaslav Nijinsky in figuring out the choreography for Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring." She also performed in the corps de ballet for classics like "Swan Lake," "Giselle," and "Scheherazade."

In 1914, Rambert moved to the United Kingdom to begin a new stage of her career. She studied under the renowned teacher Enrico Cecchetti. After further studies at the Paris Opera, she began teaching ballet classes in 1919. In 1926, she established her own company, originally known as the Ballet Club. This group is recognized as the first ballet company in Britain. Her husband, Ashley Dukes, supported her by renovating a building into the Mercury Theatre. This venue became the primary home for her company's performances. The company underwent several name changes over the decades. It was known as Marie Rambert Dancers, then Ballet Rambert, then Rambert Dance Company, and finally simply Rambert.

Rambert was famous for her ability to discover promising dancers and choreographers. She provided opportunities for artists such as Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille. Her company's first major performance was Frederick Ashton's "A Tragedy of Fashion" in 1926. In 1965, Rambert and Norman Morrice reorganized the company to emphasize modern dance. She also worked to preserve dance history. In 1979, she cooperated with Millicent Hodson to restore the choreography for "The Rite of Spring." This restoration process was completed in 1987. Her efforts helped ensure that complex historical movements were not lost to time.

Her contributions to the arts earned her numerous prestigious honors. In 1953, she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 1957, she received the Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur from France. She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from the Royal Academy of Dance. In 1962, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to ballet. She was even the subject of the television program "This Is Your Life" in 1962. Today, the company she founded, Rambert, continues to exist as an international contemporary dance company.

Rambert's legacy is deeply connected to the history of British culture. Her work helped build the foundation of the British ballet community. Historians note that the creation of ballet in Britain was a grand artistic achievement. This achievement was fueled by the idealism of Rambert and Ninette de Valois, the founder of The Royal Ballet. Through her teaching, her company, and her choreography restorations, Rambert ensured that dance remained a living, evolving art form in the United Kingdom and beyond.