Collection: Yvonne Mounsey Collection | ArchivesSpace Public Interface

The Yvonne Mounsey Collection contains photographs and souvenir programs.

Dates

Majority of material found in 1937-1959

Creator

Mounsey, Yvonne (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

The Collections are available to researchers by appointment. Please email brarchive@ou.edu or call 405/325-5181.

Conditions Governing Use

The Ballets Russes Special Collections and Archive holds the physical rights only to most materials. Researchers must secure written permission from the Archive to publish archival material. Researchers assume all responsibility for conforming to copyright laws and for correctly citing the source of the archival material.

Extent

1 Legal size document Linear Feet

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Yvonne Mounsey auditioned for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo but had scarcely traveled to Monte Carlo to join the troupe when World War II broke out. She went to Australia where she joined the Original Ballet Russe, taking the stage name Irina Zarova. At one point while touring with the company the dancers were stranded in Cuba. There Ms Mounsey she became a successful night club dancer. In 1945, when she took her act to Mexico City she met George Balanchine and accepted his invitation to perform with a group of his dancers from New York. She joined the New York City Ballet where she was especially noted for her role as The Siren in Balanchine's Prodigal Son. She later returned to her native South Africa where she founded the Johannesburg City Ballet. After moving to Los Angeles she founded the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, training many dancers some of whom went on to become principal dancers at New York City Ballet. She died at her home in the fall of 2012.