celia franca – wwii
VIEW TRANSCRIPTS OF LETTERS
Photographed, the negatives of the letters could be sent in batches and then prints were made and distributed. Here, dancer Celia Franca writes to her friend Lt. Cyril Frankel. Her frustration with the lack of opportunity to choreograph is quite clear. It’s interesting that her career is the focus of her letters despite all that was going on in Britain and Europe. Many dancers were still able to eke out a living during the war because citizens on the homefront needed the distraction of light entertainment. At the time of these aerograms, October 1943, the King’s Dragoon Guards, in which Lt. Frankel served, were fighting in Italy after having played a major role in the defeat of the Germans in North Africa. In 1951, Celia Franca moved to Canada to take up the reins of the newly formed National Ballet of Canada as its founding artistic director. (Aerograms from Celia Franca Correspondence Collection)
transcripts
TO: 261919 LT. FRANKEL
KINGS DRAGOON GUARDS
M.E.F.
5 OC 43
Sender’s Address: CELIA FRANCA, 37 ASCOT CRT. GROVE END RD. LONDON. N.W.8
Oct. 2nd. 1943.
My dear Cyril,
Received airgraph from you today dated 12.9.43. Unfortunately your pen ran out towards the end which I couldn’t read. Anglesey is in Wales. Didn’t you learn geography at school? I haven’t written to you for 3 weeks. Reason is haven’t had time. Received your cable. So glad you are well. I have a cold. Stayed in bed yesterday and read Haskell’s new book “The National Ballet” which is a lot of tripe boosting The Wells. He says that he has no patience with the pupil-choreographer, and that choreography is an art for the mature. He and Ninette [de Valois] have obviously got together on this. Do you consider this an imposing list of choreographers? Ashton, DeValois, Helpmann, Howard, Tudor, Wendy Toye, Lester. Haskell does. Take care of yourself.
Much love,
Celia xx
TO: 261919 LT. FRANKEL
KINGS DRAGOON GUARDS
M.E.F.5 OC 43
Sender’s Address: CELIA FRANCA, 37 ASCOT CRT. GROVE END RD. LONDON. N.W.8
My dear Cyril,
Am so fed up lately with the lack of opportunity to do choreography. Have decided that it’s time something was done so as “Fêtes Galantes” was originally suggested by Edwin Evans I’ve written to him explaining that I want to put it on, and how impossible it is ’cos Ninette [de Valois] won’t let us do outside work. Will let you know if he forwards any helpful suggestions. I mentioned the pas de deux we did at the Oxford Ballet Club. I’d like to get lots of experience in chamber ballet before the war ends so that I may be fit for bigger and better things afterwards. Ninette’s new ballet is called “Promenade” to Haydn’s music. It’s in rehearsal. What I’ve seen of it is fussy and tatty. She has her inevitable ‘children’ in it as precocious as ever. I suppose it will be a charming ‘curtain riser.’
Much love,
Celia xxx