Haskell Arnold, *19 July 1903 London, †15 November 1980 Bath, English ballet organizer, critic, and theorist. He graduated in law from the University of Cambridge. An inherited interest in ballet from his mother developed during his studies into what he himself described as an “emotional, irrational passion.” He therefore abandoned legal practice to devote himself entirely to ballet. Haskell became one of the most important figures in the development of British ballet. He was a co-founder of the Camargo Society (1930), the first institution aimed at popularizing national ballet in British society. He participated in the organization of the Vic-Wells Ballet School (now the Royal Ballet School) and served as its director from 1947 to 1965. Through his efforts, the school expanded its professional training program to include general education. For many years he was vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dancing and an advisor on ballet to the British Council. He served on juries of international ballet competitions in Varna, Moscow, and Havana; in Varna he was vice-chairman of the jury from 1964 to 1973. He travelled extensively and maintained friendly relations with ballet communities in various countries, regardless of political systems. He was also active as a critic and promoter of ballet. Between 1928 and 1933 he wrote ballet reviews for the “Daily Telegraph,” later contributing to other journals. From 1947 to 1963 he was editor-in-chief of “Ballet Annual.” His books played a major role in popularizing ballet thanks to their accessible literary style and broad humanistic erudition. Ballet: A Complete Guide to Appreciation became a standard reference work on ballet, appearing in numerous English editions and translated into many languages. His other widely known works include Balletomania, a monograph on Diaghilev, the autobiography In His True Centre, and Balletomane at Large. Haskell was an influential advisor to choreographers, teachers, and writers. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Legion of Honour Order in 1951 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1954.
Literature: Arnold Lionel Haskell In His True Centre, London 1951 (autobiography).
Some Studies in Ballet, London 1928
Vera Trefilova. A Study in Classicism, London 1928
Anton Dolin. The First Chapter, London 1929
The Marie Rambert Ballet, London 1930
Tamara Karsawina, London 1931
The Ballet in England, London 1932
Our Dancers, London 1932
Balletomania. The Story of an Obsession, London 1934, 2nd ed. expanded 1977
Diaghileff. His Artistic and Private Life, with W. Nouvel, London 1935
Balletomane’s Scrapbook, London 1936
Prelude to Ballet, London 1936
Dancing around the World, London 1937
Ballet, London 1938, Polish trans. A. Bońkowska, Krakow 1965
Ballet Panorama, London 1938
Balletomane’s Album, London 1939
Ballet to Poland, London 1940
The National Ballet, London 1943
The Making of a Dancer, London 1946
Balletomane at Large, London 1972
