Foyer de danse is based on Degas’s studies of dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet; a popular subject that had previously inspired works including August Bournonville’s Le Conservatoire (1849). Ashton’s ballet opens on a group of coryphées, who take a barre under the guidance of their Maître de ballet (originally danced by Ashton himself) before the late arrival of l’etoile (originally Alicia Markova) to the rehearsal and, later, intrusions from a lascivious patron. An ingenious caricature of the hierarchy and goings-on in the company, the ballet was a modest success, but eventually disappeared from the repertory. In 2011, Ursula Hageli (former Ballet Mistress, The Royal Ballet) began work on its revival, initially mentored by Christopher Newton (former dancer and Ballet Master, The Royal Ballet). Following a painstaking process of reconstruction over several years, the complete ballet was performed for the first time in over 90 years by Ballet Central as part of their 2025 summer tour.

Copyright © 2004 by David Vaughan. ‘Work note’ © Frederick Ashton Foundation.

This listing is part of a chronology that was originally published in Vaughan’s Frederick Ashton and His Ballets (Alfred E Knopf 1976; 2nd ed., London: Dance Books, 1999) and includes new productions added since then, and up until 2007