Ruth Abramovitsch Sorel
Encyclopedia
Ruth Elly Abramovitsch Sorel (18 June 1907 - 1 April 1974) was a German choreographer, dancer, artistic director
and teacher. She spent the first half of her career working mainly in Europe (particularly Warsaw) and then was predominantly active in Canada after moving to that nation in 1944. In Canada she worked under the stage name
"Ruth Sorel", but in Europe she was known under her maiden name, Abramovitsch (sometimes spelled Abramowitz).
The Canadian Encyclopedia
states that Abramovitsch Sorel was, "A well-known, expressive performer, who was praised by local and international critics for her intensely theatrical German dance style, her literary inspiration and the emotion, musicality and precision of her execution... Working in Canada prior to the existence of grants for innovation, Sorel was a pioneer of European expressionism in Québec." As a choreographer she was at the forefront of modern dance
and contemporary ballet
, combining two contrasting elements: German expressionist dance
and classical ballet
. For many years she operated and directed her own dance company in Montreal, Les Ballets Ruth Sorel (also known as the Ruth Sorel Modern Dance Group).
, Abramovitsch Sorel studied Dalcroze
eurhythmics
before becoming a dancer in Mary Wigman
's company in Dresden in 1923 where she remained for six seasons. From 1927-1933 she was a principal dancer with the Berlin State Opera
where she was much admired as the lead soloist in the ballet Legend of Joseph.
Abramovitsch Sorel was forced to leave the Berlin State Opera by the Nazis due to her Jewish heritage and Communist leanings. She left Germany for Poland in 1933 where she soon won first prize at the international solo dance competition in Warsaw for her performance of Salomé's dance of the seven veils. From 1933-1939 she taught dance and directed student productions at Warsaw's advanced dance school. She also actively performed in Poland during those years, often appearing with dancer George Groke with whom she gave performance tours to Palestine and the United States during the 1930s. At the outbreak of World War II she emigrated from Poland to Brazil. She attempted to start a dance academy in that nation but was unsuccessful.
Abramovitsch Sorel quickly established herself as an important choreographer and dancer in the Québec region, now using the stage name "Ruth Sorel". She formed the Les Ballets Ruth Sorel which had a triumphant success representing Québec at the first Canadian Ballet Festival
(CBF) in 1948 in Winnipeg. Later the National Film Board of Canada
's documentary
of the CBF included sequences from her celebrated Mea Culpa Mea Culpa, a medieval mystery. Sorel's dance company performed her choreography on tours in Canada and in the United States, notably giving performances at dance festivals in New York City and at Montréal's Chalet du Mont-Royal
. In 1949 she had a major success in Montreal with La Gaspésienne, the first choreography with Québécois content, which used music by Pierre Brabant
. The ballet was given performances in Toronto, New York City, and at the Great Theatre, Warsaw in 1950.
In 1955 Abramovitsch Sorel and her husband left Canada suddenly for Poland. She lived in Warsaw for the remainder of her life. She died there in 1974 at the age of 66.
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
and teacher. She spent the first half of her career working mainly in Europe (particularly Warsaw) and then was predominantly active in Canada after moving to that nation in 1944. In Canada she worked under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
"Ruth Sorel", but in Europe she was known under her maiden name, Abramovitsch (sometimes spelled Abramowitz).
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
states that Abramovitsch Sorel was, "A well-known, expressive performer, who was praised by local and international critics for her intensely theatrical German dance style, her literary inspiration and the emotion, musicality and precision of her execution... Working in Canada prior to the existence of grants for innovation, Sorel was a pioneer of European expressionism in Québec." As a choreographer she was at the forefront of modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
and contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet is a form of dance which incorporates elements of both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointework from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of...
, combining two contrasting elements: German expressionist dance
Expressionist dance
Expressionist dance is a European dance form that is part of the German Expressionist movement. Although considered a part of the modern dance movement, it is separate from modern dance per se. Other names for it that have fallen out of use include Moderner Tanz, Absoluter Tanz, Freier Tanz,...
and classical ballet
Classical ballet
Classical Ballet is the most formal of the ballet styles, it adheres to traditional ballet technique. There are variations relating to area of origin, such as Russian ballet, French ballet, British ballet and Italian ballet...
. For many years she operated and directed her own dance company in Montreal, Les Ballets Ruth Sorel (also known as the Ruth Sorel Modern Dance Group).
Early life and career
Born to Polish-Jewish parents in Halle, Saxony-AnhaltHalle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, Abramovitsch Sorel studied Dalcroze
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze , was a Swiss composer, musician and music educator who developed eurhythmics, a method of learning and experiencing music through movement...
eurhythmics
Eurhythmics
Dalcroze Eurhythmics, also known as the Dalcroze Method or simply Eurhythmics, is one of several developmental approaches including the Kodaly Method, Orff Schulwerk, Simply Music and Suzuki Method used to teach music education to students. Eurhythmics was developed in the early 20th century by...
before becoming a dancer in Mary Wigman
Mary Wigman
Mary Wigman was a German dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor.A pioneer of expressionist dance, her work was hailed for bringing the deepest of existential experiences to the stage...
's company in Dresden in 1923 where she remained for six seasons. From 1927-1933 she was a principal dancer with the Berlin State Opera
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
where she was much admired as the lead soloist in the ballet Legend of Joseph.
Abramovitsch Sorel was forced to leave the Berlin State Opera by the Nazis due to her Jewish heritage and Communist leanings. She left Germany for Poland in 1933 where she soon won first prize at the international solo dance competition in Warsaw for her performance of Salomé's dance of the seven veils. From 1933-1939 she taught dance and directed student productions at Warsaw's advanced dance school. She also actively performed in Poland during those years, often appearing with dancer George Groke with whom she gave performance tours to Palestine and the United States during the 1930s. At the outbreak of World War II she emigrated from Poland to Brazil. She attempted to start a dance academy in that nation but was unsuccessful.
Career in Canada and later years in Poland
In 1944 Abramovitsch Sorel emigrated to Canada with her husband, the author Michel Choromanski. The couple settled in Montréal and Sorel soon opened a number of dance studios in the area, including studios in Westmount, Shawinigan, and Trois-Rivières. At the latter studio she frequently presented her most gifted students in recital, often dancing herself.Abramovitsch Sorel quickly established herself as an important choreographer and dancer in the Québec region, now using the stage name "Ruth Sorel". She formed the Les Ballets Ruth Sorel which had a triumphant success representing Québec at the first Canadian Ballet Festival
Canadian Ballet Festival
The Canadian Ballet Festival was an annual event staged in Canada from 1948 to 1954 that brought together various Canadian dance companies to generate public interest in classical dance. Prior to the festivals, it was difficult for professional Canadian dancers to earn a living by practicing their...
(CBF) in 1948 in Winnipeg. Later the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
's documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
of the CBF included sequences from her celebrated Mea Culpa Mea Culpa, a medieval mystery. Sorel's dance company performed her choreography on tours in Canada and in the United States, notably giving performances at dance festivals in New York City and at Montréal's Chalet du Mont-Royal
Chalet du Mont-Royal
Chalet du Mont-Royal is a building located near the summit of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The chalet was constructed in 1932 under the mayoralty of Camillien Houde as a make-work project during the Great Depression. It is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m....
. In 1949 she had a major success in Montreal with La Gaspésienne, the first choreography with Québécois content, which used music by Pierre Brabant
Pierre Brabant
Pierre Brabant is a Canadian composer and pianist. He has appeared in concerts and recitals throughout Canada and performed numerous times on Canadian television and radio...
. The ballet was given performances in Toronto, New York City, and at the Great Theatre, Warsaw in 1950.
In 1955 Abramovitsch Sorel and her husband left Canada suddenly for Poland. She lived in Warsaw for the remainder of her life. She died there in 1974 at the age of 66.