Ludmila Mlada (Ludi Horenstein) Archive

The collection primarily relates to Mlada's training and performance work. It includes: personal papers, comprising notes, diaries and correspondence (including letters from Sigurd Leeder and letters written by Mlada during a tour with Ballet Rambert in 1946-1947); photographs; posters and theatre programmes; press cuttings; music and Labanotation scores; and a collection of audio recordings for use in performances, much of which was specifically composed for Mlada (including compositions by pianists Joseph Brand, Thomas Henderson and Anthony Bowles).

Ludmila Mlada (1918-2003) was a dancer and dance educator. Born Dorothy Rosemary Olga Ludmila, Mlada used three names professionally: Rosemary Young, Ludi Horenstein and Ludmila Mlada. She studied at Marie Rambert's school in the late 1930s and performed with Ballet Rambert on tours to Europe (1946) and America (1947). She also danced with the Ballet Jooss in the 1940s and trained with Sigurd Leeder from 1947-1950, also going on to perform with the Studio Group.

Many of Mlada's solo recitals featured dramatic characters, including Lucifer and Priestess. Leeder choreographed many dances for her such as Galop, Nocturne, and Figura Tragica. Other choreographers who worked with Mlada included Buddy Bradley and Jane Winearls.

As an educator, Mlada additionally taught at, amongst other places, the Leeder School, the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art, and the Guildford School of Music and Drama.

Material arranged at time of cataloguing according to the format-based classification scheme which was then in use by the National Resource Centre for Dance.

Material is available to view in the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections Research Room.

Access to some collection items may be restricted, for instance where sensitive personal or commercial information has been identified during cataloguing, or to protect very fragile items. The Archives team will advise of any restrictions that may be in place.

All records are open to public access under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless subject to specific exemption. Records containing personal information on individuals are subject to the terms of UK Data Protection legislation.

The collection was gifted to the National Resource Centre for Dance in 2003 by the executors of Mlada's estate. An additional deposit of material followed in 2004.

A full catalogue of the collection is available to view on the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections online catalogue .

Collection level description prepared by Laura Griffiths and Emily Churchill, 2009-2010, and revised by Melanie Peart, 2020, and Simon Mackley, 2024.

This Archives Hub description prepared by Simon Mackley in October 2024. Please see the University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections online catalogue for any subsequent amendments.

All requests to publish or otherwise reproduce material from the archive should be directed to archives@surrey.ac.uk in the first instance. Unauthorised copying or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Duplicate news cuttings and photographs were discarded during processing.

The collection was generated by Mlada over the course of her life and career. After her death, the collection was offered to the National Resource Centre for Dance, who reviewed the materials and selected for preservation those likely to be of lasting historical and research value.

The collection was catalogued as part of the Pioneer Women: early British modern dancers project at the University of Surrey.

The archive of Mlada's father, Robert Fitzgibbon Young, is held by Lancaster University Archives [collection reference: RFY].