{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1629183"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1629183/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MY3138/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MY3138/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MY3138","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1629183","accessionNumber":"S.524-2021","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"During the Ball","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Dancers led by Danish ballerina Nini Theilade were a feature of the Shakespearean productions presented at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park in the 1930s. The seasons' programmes also included full evenings devoted to ballet and an impressive cast gathered for these presentations. In this ballet, <i>During the Ball</i>, Nini Theilade (as the Little Lady) was partnered in 1934 by Robert Helpmann and in 1935 by Antony Tudor (as the Charming Man). The ballet, choreographed by Theilade, was danced to ‘an arrangement of the Richard Strauss' from <i>Der Rosenkavalier</i>. In the photograph She can be seen at the back, being lifted by two men.\n\nThe programme note for <i>During the Ball</i> reads;\n‘However much I try to fascinate him’, she thought, ‘he simply will not look at me. Why, all the evening he has been dancing with those two pretty girls and has left me out in the cold.’ But she need not have worried. Before the night had turned into day he was dancing with her, saying those romantic and wonderful things to her that make a girl’s heart thrill to hear, and all because he was jealous of the attention bestowed upon her by the rest of the men in the ballroom who saw how utterly fascinating she was.\n\n","physicalDescription":"Group photograph on the open air stage at Regent's Park with six men in dark tights and white 'pierrot' shirts with dark floppy bows and nine women in white ballgowns with dark decoration at neck, waist, sleeves and on skirts. The women wear long, dark fingerless gloves. In the centre at the back the ballerina is lifted by two men. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"J. W. Debenham","id":"AUTH325548"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":"Debenham was photographer for the Open Air Theatre in the 1930s and produced series of photographic postcards which were sold to the audience as souvenirs."}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photograph","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MY3138"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES356629"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}],[{"text":"photographic postcards","id":"AAT192703"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":"photographed in Regent's Park at the Open Air Theatre"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1934","earliest":"1934-01-01","latest":"1934-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":"The ballet was performed 1934 and 1935."}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Museum Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This photograph is from the J.W. Debenham collection of photographs and negatives, purchased by the British Theatre Museum Association from A&C Black on 19 March 1963.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photographic postcard by J.W. Debenham of the ballet, <i>During the Ball</i>, choreographed by Nini Theilaide at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, in 1934","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.524-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"524","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"BTMA accession number","id":"THES51752"},"number":"1963/W/37"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-17","recordCreationDate":"2021-06-01","availableToBook":true}}