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This remarkable program book from the 1944 to 1945 Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo coincides with the time Maria Tallchief and George Balanchine left the company to marry and begin the New York City Ballet together.

Examples of elegant photographs from this program include

Alexandra Danilova, one of the most popular dancers of her time, active from the 1920's until 1989, well known as a teacher at the School of American Ballet. Frederic Franklin, who danced with Josephine Baker at Casino de Paris in 1931, was a premier danseur with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1938 until 1952, and Ballet Master in 1944. Franklin and the aforementioned Danilova created one of the legendary ballet partnerships of the 20th century. Maria Tallchief danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo until 1947. She was married to George Balanchine from 1946 until 1951. In 1946 she formed the New York City Ballet with Balanchine. Widely acclaimed as the muse of Balanchine, she was the first truly virtuosic American ballerina. In 1953 she was honored by the state of Oklahoma with the title Wa-Xthe-Thomba, which means "Woman of Two Worlds," for achieving international acclaim as a prima ballerina and Native American. Tatania Semenova who, while entertaining the troops with the USO in Rome, Italy, on a bomb-damaged stage, severed the cartilage in her knee and fractured her arm. While unable to dance any longer, she moved to the United States in 1946 and began a teaching career. This photograph was most likely taken just before her injury. Vividly colorful illustrations document the stage sets and costumes designed by Eugene Berman, a Russian artist with an interest in architecture. He became a U.S. citizen in 1944, the same year as this program.

Additional full page illustrations show the work of Boris Aronson, a Jewish-American set designer, who went on to achieve much acclaim in 1953 for his work on The Crucible , and in 1955 for The Diary of a Young Girl . He later designed sets for theater classics including Fiddler on the Roof , Cabaret , and Zorba .

The work of Oliver Smith, one of the most distinguished and prolific scenic designers in American history, is shown in a bright, full page illustration.

The spine shows some wear. T are a few very small creases on the front cover. The back cover and last 14 pages have a slight fold line which runs diagonally from the side to the bottom edge.

The program book measures 9 inches in width and 12 inches in height. It is approximately 1/4 inch thick, and composed of a total of sixty pages plus the front and back covers.

A separate single page program insert is included. It is dated Tuesday Night, December 5, 1944 at 8:15, and lists the specific dancers featured at that performance. This piece measures 6 inches by 9 inches, and is in mint condition.

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