What It Means To Get Into The Imperial Theatrical School

 

Photo credit: Vaslav Nijinsky in the uniform of a resident student of the Imperial Theatrical School in St. Petersburg, 1900 from Bronislava Nijinska Early Memoirs

Bronislava Nijinska's brother Vaslav Nijinsky had applied for admittance to the Imperial Theatrical School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Their mother was delighted that his application was accepted. An audition was scheduled, but because of the upcoming audition, their mother was filled with anxiety that she depended on others to put in a good word for Nijinsky, such as Enrico Cecchetti.  Cecchetti, both their mother and father, worked with, so she believed Cecchetti's positive words of Vaslav Nijinsky to the members of the Commission and with the Director of the Imperial Theatres. His words would guarantee Nijinsky's acceptance into the school.  Nijinsky's acceptance into the school would put her worries to rest about her son's future and the family's well-being.  Bronislava describes this in her own words.

"When Mama heard that the application was accepted and that the audition was scheduled for August 20, she added an extra prayer every night: "Matka Boska, help Vaslav. "Let him be admitted to the Imperial Theatrical school!" Vaslav entrance to the Imperial Theatrical School would determine his future path in life. Once accepted, there would be no more uncertainty or financial anxiety about his education. He would become an Artist of the Imperial Theatres, a permanent government position. If, God willing, he should advance to the rank of premier danseur, and Mother had no doubt that he would, then he would be assured not only of a large salary but also of distinguished and honorable position in the Imperial Theatres and, at age thirty-six, a life pension almost equal to his salary. Mama knew that at the audition  there was to be a great examination. Vaslav did not appear concerned; he seemed to take it for granted that he would be accepted. Mama, however, was afraid that during the summer Vaslav would forget everything he had learned in preparatory school, and so she told him that now he must study for at least one  hour every day. Vaslav considered "book work" a punishment, but at Mother's insistence he obediently sat at the table, though his face expressed suffering and impatience. He moved restlessly in his chair, his pencil broke often, and it was obvious that he could not concentrate on his books. Mama was worried that if Vaslav was not accepted by the Imperial School his future would be as an artist of the private theatres. "You will be like your mother and father, always 'on the road'..." She implored Vaslav to study diligently: "The Theatrical School is not an ordinary school. There is not another like it in the whole world. For you to accepted there will bring us all great happiness." Vatsa loved Mother very much, and so he would embrace her and sit down again with a book, saying : " I will study!" But very soon he would be on his feet again, announcing, "Mamoussia, I already know everything, let me go for a walk."- Quote from Bronislava Nijinska description of the event of getting her brother Vaslav Nijinsky prepared for his examination at the Imperial Theatrical School.

It's obvious how vivid this memory was for Nijinska because of how detailed it is and how she knew from a young age how important it was to her mother that Nijinsky get into this school and what this would mean to the family. She also picks up on how her brother seems not worried about the audition or examination because he believes so much that he will get in that he does not share his mother's anxiety. Another thing she picks up on is how much their mother depends on her brother, and if his mother asks something of her brother, even if he does not want to do it, he does it to keep their mother happy.

It also shows how important it was to get into this school since you were taken care of financially, provided a pension, and would be a dancer in the Imperial ballet, so your future was taken care of.

Their mother worried that her children would follow in her and their father's footsteps by not being affiliated with any dance company like their parents. Instead, their children would always have to worry about money and putting food on the table like her and their father did. Hence, it was imperative that her son gets into this school, removed that anxiety on those matters.

Nijinska also touches on her brother was not the academic type it pained him to sit still. He wanted to run outside and go on an adventure instead of staying inside and reading a book which was more of what Nijinska did, so she could tell where she and her brother Nijinsky differed.

This conversation she was listening to would also prepare Nijinska for what would be expected of her for her application to the school, so she paid attention to everything that was being said and her brother and mother's reactions.

Photo credit: Silver insignia of the Imperial Theatrical School from Nijinsky's own uniform. Photograph of the original insignia preserved in the Nijinska Archives from Bronislava Nijinska Early Memoirs