Ballerina. Widely considered one of the greatest classical ballerinas in history, she studied at the Imperial Theatre School, St Petersburg, graduating in 1913 to join the Maryinsky Theatre. She soon became one of the most admired dancers in the company, promoted to soloist (1916) and ballerina (1918). She toured in the United States with Diaghilev's Ballet russes and, after leaving Russia for good in 1924, she became an etoile at the Paris Opera until 1932. In 1943 she suffered a nervous breakdown and remained in a mental hospital until 1963 when friends such as Dolin, Doubrovska and Dale Fern had her settled into Tolstoy Farm in New York. It was there she died peacefully in 1991. She created many role such as Nijinska's 'Les Rencontes (1925) and Balanchine's 'La Chatte' plus many more. The Eifman ballet 'Red Giselle' is based around her.
Ballerina. Widely considered one of the greatest classical ballerinas in history, she studied at the Imperial Theatre School, St Petersburg, graduating in 1913 to join the Maryinsky Theatre. She soon became one of the most admired dancers in the company, promoted to soloist (1916) and ballerina (1918). She toured in the United States with Diaghilev's Ballet russes and, after leaving Russia for good in 1924, she became an etoile at the Paris Opera until 1932. In 1943 she suffered a nervous breakdown and remained in a mental hospital until 1963 when friends such as Dolin, Doubrovska and Dale Fern had her settled into Tolstoy Farm in New York. It was there she died peacefully in 1991. She created many role such as Nijinska's 'Les Rencontes (1925) and Balanchine's 'La Chatte' plus many more. The Eifman ballet 'Red Giselle' is based around her.
Bio by: Medora
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