Marie Rambert

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Marie Rambert was born to a liberal Lithuanian Jewish family in Warsaw, Congress Poland. Her father and two brothers changed their surnames to avoid military service in the Imperial Russian Army; she eventually adopted the French form Marie Rambert. She began dance training early but was unimpressed with ballet until she saw Isadora Duncan perform in 1904, which 'profoundly moved' her. After becoming active in political riots in 1905, her parents urged her to move to Paris, where she studied with Madame Rat from the Paris Opera and later with Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, who introduced her to eurhythmics. Sergei Diaghilev watched a class at the Dalcroze College and asked her to come to Berlin to study with him in the Ballets Russes. There, from 1912 to 1913, she aided them with figuring out Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with Vaslav Nijinsky. After her contract was not continued, she moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and studied under Enrico Cecchetti. She began teaching ballet classes in 1919 and founded her own school in Bedford Gardens. In 1926 she created the Ballet Club, later renamed Ballet Rambert. She met her husband Ashley Dukes at a dinner party in 1917; they married on 3 March 1918 after four days of personal meetings and seven months of correspondence. Dukes renovated a building into the Mercury Theatre, where the company performed. She was known for discovering new choreographers, including Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille. In 1965, with Norman Morrice, she reorganized the company to stress modern dance. She cooperated with Millicent Hodson to restore Nijinsky's choreography of The Rite of Spring in 1979.

Reader's Guide

Marie Rambert's significance lies in her foundational role in establishing ballet in Britain. Her company, Ballet Rambert, is recognized as the first ballet company in the country, and her school produced many leading figures of 20th-century British ballet. She was instrumental in discovering and fostering choreographers such as Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille, who went on to shape the art form internationally. Her willingness to embrace modern dance, reorganizing her company in 1965 to stress modern dance, ensured its continued relevance. The restoration of Nijinsky's The Rite of Spring choreography in 1979, in cooperation with Millicent Hodson, preserved a landmark work. Her legacy is that of a pedagogue and impresario who, alongside Ninette de Valois, helped create ballet in Britain. She was honored as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962 and received the Gold Medal of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 1979.

Did You Know?

• Marie Rambert was originally named Cyvia (Cesia) Rambam, born to a liberal Lithuanian Jewish family in Warsaw, Congress Poland.
• She changed her name to Myriam Ramberg and finally left it in the French form Marie Rambert; in later years she was known to friends and dancers as Mim.
• She met her husband Ashley Dukes at a dinner party in 1917; they married on 3 March 1918 after four days of personal meetings and seven months of correspondence, partly as a joke so Dukes could get four weeks of extended leave instead of two days.
• Rambert aided Vaslav Nijinsky in figuring out Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring while working with the Ballets Russes from 1912 to 1913.
• She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1962, when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the Mercury Theatre, Notting Hill Gate.

Origins and Early Training

Marie Rambert was born in Warsaw, Congress Poland, in 1888 to a liberal Lithuanian Jewish family. She was originally named Cyvia (Cesia) Rambam. Her father and two brothers changed their surnames to avoid military service in the Imperial Russian Army; she eventually adopted the French form Marie Rambert. She began dance training early but was unimpressed with ballet until she attended a performance by Isadora Duncan in 1904 and was 'profoundly moved by the beauty of Duncan's dance'. After becoming active in political riots and the tragic day of May Day in 1905, her parents urged her to move to Paris and take up medicine while living with her aunt and uncle. At a party she danced a mazurka with such liveliness that there was applause afterwards; this was her first performance. She met Raymond Duncan, brother of Isadora, at the same party, who congratulated her. She studied with Madame Rat from the Paris Opera, and later with Émile Jaques-Dalcroze at Dalcroze College, who introduced her to eurhythmics. One day at the Dalcroze College, Sergei Diaghilev watched a class and asked her to come back to Berlin and study with him in the Ballets Russes. There, from 1912 to 1913, she aided them with figuring out Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with Vaslav Nijinsky. After her contract was not continued, she moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and studied under Enrico Cecchetti.

From School to Company

After studying with Cecchetti, Rambert went back to study with Madame Rat at the Paris Opera. She began teaching ballet classes in 1919 and later founded her own ballet school in Bedford Gardens. In 1926 she created her own company, originally named Ballet Club. The company began performing at night revues in London; the first informal show was performed in Riverside Nights at the Lyric Theatre. She began finding new and promising dancers and choreographers, such as Frederick Ashton and William Chappell. The company changed names from Marie Rambert Dancers to Ballet Rambert, later Rambert Dance Company, and from 2014 just named Rambert. It dates its birth to the first performance of Frederick Ashton's A Tragedy of Fashion in 1926, making it the first ballet company in Britain. Ashley Dukes, her husband, renovated a building and made it into Mercury Theatre, where the majority of Ballet Rambert's performances occurred. The company performed ballets such as Coppelia and Balanchine's Night Shadow.

A Crucible for Choreographic Talent

Rambert was adamant about finding new and upcoming choreographers. Some of her students and later colleagues included Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor, and Agnes de Mille. In 1965, with the help of Norman Morrice, her newest discovery, she completely reorganized the company to stress modern dance. The repertoire eventually came back to more contemporary ballets but still has a vast list of pieces performed throughout the years. She cooperated with Millicent Hodson to restore Nijinsky's choreography of The Rite of Spring in 1979; the restoration was completed in 1987. Rambert is known for helping to create and keep the ballet community strong in Britain. Ninette de Valois, founder of The Royal Ballet, said: 'The creation of Ballet in Britain is one of the grandest achievements in the artistic annals of our century. It is owed absolutely to the idealism which fired Rambert and Ninette de Valois.'

Philosophy and Enduring Mission

Rambert's founding philosophy, as expressed by Marie herself, held that insisting on solid classical training was essential while simultaneously demanding that the company dictate new trends in dance. That dual commitment—discipline and daring—remains woven into the organisation's identity. Today, the company describes its mission as giving brilliant and daring people the opportunity to inspire others, believing this is a way to change the world for the better. As one of the world's most diverse dance companies, Rambert seeks to transform everyday spaces by creating work that is awe-inspiring, adventurous, dynamic, and relevant, then carrying it to neighbourhoods, the nation, and the globe. The company actively seeks the most exciting and radical ideas from wherever they originate, and strives to connect with audiences and participants from all backgrounds. Beyond performances, it offers dance and wellness classes and courses for people of all ages and abilities.