Ballet photo of Tatiana Riabouchinska in Melbourne Australia 1939 by photographer Spencer Stier.

Les Dieux mendiants
(The Gods Go A-Begging) is a ballet commissioned in 1928 by Serge Diaghilev for his Ballets Russes, featuring choreography by George Balanchine. Set to music by Handel, arranged by Sir Thomas Beecham, it tells a romantic story of divine beings disguised as a shepherd and a serving-maid who dance with humans. Key Aspects of Les Dieux mendiants:

Choreography & Premiere: Originally choreographed by George Balanchine for the Ballets Russes in 1928, it was later featured in tours by the company, including performances in Australia between 1936-1941.
Plot: The ballet features a shepherd who mingles with noble guests at a picnic. While aristocratic ladies try to dance with him, he chooses to dance with a serving-maid, eventually revealing their divine identities.
Performers: The ballet was performed by notable dancers such as Tatiana Riabouchinska and Roman Jasinsky.
Music: The score is a suite arranged by Sir Thomas Beecham from various works by George Frideric Handel. It is often associated with the neoclassical style of early Balanchine and the glamorous, touring era of the Ballets Russes.

Les Dieux mendiants (The Gods go a-begging), between Nov 1938-Aug 1940

Note: From 1936-1941, three tours by the beautiful young dancers of the Russian Ballet astonished Australian audiences with modern dance. Box office records were broken as the theatre was filled every night for long seasons, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. These ballet tours established ballet in Australia and helped to lead to the creation of the Australian Ballet some years after the War.