Lilla Bauer
(1912-2011), Ballet dancer and dance teacherLilla Seiber (née Bauer)
Sitter in 1 portrait
Born in Budapest, third daughter of architect Émil Bauer, Lilla trained locally and joined the modern Ballet Jooss with two scholarships. She danced in some of Jooss’ most famous productions, including The Green Table. She was with the company during their stay at Dartington Hall, subsequently returning home to form her own company. After her production of Madach’s Tragedy of Man (1938) in Szeged, and parting from her lover, György Buday, she moved to London. Surviving the Blitz in Baker Street, she married the composer, Mátyás Seiber (1905-60) in 1946, then moved to Caterham in Surrey. She taught Modern Dance at Goldsmith’s College, London until retirement, also lecturing and examining around the country. She never returned to Hungary.
Lilla Bauer and Otto Struller in 'The Green Table'
by Gordon Anthony
vintage print, 1930s
NPG x137070
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Julia Seiber Boyd
19 August 2021, 14:37
Lilla was the youngest of 3 sisters. Her parents & eldest siter emigrated to Australia after WW2, the middle sister married a town planner, Veler.
Her lengthy relationship with Gyory Buday resulted in many portraits being done by him - c. a dozen of which are in the 2 folders of Buday's work held by the British Museum. She was also much photographed by her friend, the well known photographer, Mariann Reisman.
She briefly married Vilmos Levy a/k/a Peter Lambda, a sculptor who was also ccartoon/ illustrator at the Podium Club run by George Mikes & Matyas Seiber in London, for Hungarian emigres.
Her marriage to Matyas Seiber, composer, in 1946, resulted in one daughter, Julia b 1949, now chair of the Matyas Seiber Trust..