The Influence of André Levinson and Arnold Haskell in the Attempts to Develop a Ballet Culture in Catalonia during the First Half of the Twentieth Century

Abstract

This article examines a largely neglected chapter of Spanish and Catalan dance history: the attempts to create and develop a dance culture in Catalonia during the first half of the twentieth century, following the visits of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Spain. Two Catalan writers and promoters, Sebastià Gasch and Alfons Puig i Claramunt, were the key figures who sought to position Barcelona alongside other European dance capitals, like London or Paris. Sebastià Gasch was an important art critic and friend of many avant-garde artists, including Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca. His proximity to Paris and its artistic milieu drew him to the writings of André Levinson and Serge Lifar when he started writing about dance. Alfons Puig i Claramunt, an art critic and promoter, noticed how England was developing a thriving dance culture and identified the importance of the writings and active role of Arnold Haskell, who became his model. Gasch and Puig championed their friend Joan Magrinyà, enlisting him in their creative and artistic enterprise. However, unlike what happened in Paris or London, their attempts failed. The emerging narrative shows how the different social and cultural contexts and lack of a serious understanding of ballet as art form prevented their enterprise from overcoming the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of their efforts.