Job (1931) Ninette de Valois

the oldest ballet in royal ballet repertoire, job regarded crucial work in development of british ballet , first ballet produced entirely british creative team. ballet produced , choreographed valois, commissioned score entitled job, masque dancing, written ralph vaughan williams, orchestrations constant lambert , designs gwendolen raverat. libretto ballet written geoffrey keynes , based on william blake s engraved edition of book of job hebrew bible. consisting of 8 scenes, ballet inspired blake s engravings , de valois choreographed ballet using predominantly mimed actions create simple decorative effect.

despite choreography of ballet being described uneven , job features number of known dances, continue performed regularly. recognised extracts satan s dance, acrobatic solo male dancer, dance of job s comforters, , satirical expressionist dances representing war, pestilence , famine. job had world premiere on 5 july 1931, , performed members of camargo society @ cambridge theatre, london. first public performance of ballet took place on 22 september 1931 @ old vic theatre.