Vlasta Novotna (born 1890s) was a Czech dancer billed as a member of the Imperial Russian Ballet, but more often seen in variety and comic opera programs.
Early life Vlasta Novotna was born in Prague."What War is Doing to Dancing" Indianapolis Star (March 5, 1916): 76. via Newspapers.com She was often described as a protégée of Emmy Destinn."Over Land and Sea" Seven Seas Magazine (December 1915): 36.
Career
Novotna danced in La Belle Paree on Broadway in 1911, and in Ein Walzertraum at the Irving Place Theatre; the following year, she was in the revue From Broadway to Paris."Germans in 'Waltz Dream'" New York Times (December 26, 1911): 7. "Theatrical Notes" New York Times (September 9, 1912): 9. In 1913, she toured Australia and New Zealand billed as a member of the Imperial Russian Ballet, one of Les Sylphides"Her Majesty's Theatre: Les Sylphides" Table Talk (July 17, 1913): 17. via Trove with Adeline Genée and Halina Schmolz.Advertisement, Auckland Star (October 10, 1913): 12. via PapersPast In 1914 and 1915, she returned to Australia, where she danced with the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company in Gipsy Love, Princess Caprice, The Count of Luxembourg"J. C. Williamson's New Comic Opera Company" The Daily News (March 13, 1914): 7. via Trove and High Jinks."High Jinks" The Herald (March 29, 1915): 7. via Trove She also performed at a benefit for the Thespians War Fund."Thespian War Fund Matinee" Daily Standard (August 22, 1914): 4. via Trove She told an Australian newspaper that "I love my work. The dance to me is the very air I breathe.""The Overpowering Topic" The World's News (October 3, 1914): 5. via Trove
Later in 1915, she presented a dance show in New York, based on her idea of Australian and Polynesian native dances. The show was considered remarkable for her exotic and minimal costumes."The Beauty and the Bushman" Washington Herald (November 7, 1915): 33. via Newspapers.com A Honolulu newspaper was not impressed with her interpretation of the hula, noting "The society dancer terms her creation Hawaiian, but people in the islands will recognize little in it save perhaps the costume, which would appear to be that of the hula, with some picturesque additions"."Russian Dancer's Conception of Hula" Honolulu Advertiser (August 22, 1916): 2. via Newspapers.com
In 1916 she danced at a New York benefit for the Montenegrin Relief Association of America."Many Charity Entertainments Fill Society's Calendar" New York Sun (March 26, 1916): 22. via Newspapers.com"Benefit for Montenegrin Refugees" New York Times (March 30, 1916). She also developed a seven-part program called "The Dance of the War Bride", and danced at the Metropolitan Opera House."Russian Dancers to be at Ball" Wilkes-Barre Record (May 1, 1916): 24. via Newspapers.com
References
External links Vlasta Novotna's listing on IBDB. Vlasta Novotna's listing on AusStage. A 1913 photograph of Vlasta Novotna in "gypsy costume", from the State Library of New South Wales. Another 1913 photograph of Vlasta Novotna, in a long tutu, from the State Library of New South Wales.