Throwback Thursday and Alicia Markova
Even at the age of 92, Alicia Markova was still actively
teaching class. Her real name was Lilian
Alicia Marks, and she was born in London on December 1, 1910. She began as a
child prodigy, proclaimed as “Little Alicia, the Child Pavlova”, and she did,
indeed, resemble Pavlova with her dark hair and slender build. She even met Pavlova once and was invited to
her home, Ivy House, where she taken through some barre exercises. At age 14 she was hired by Diaghilev.
Markova grew up and began her career during a period when
ballet was almost non-existent in Britain.
She helped develop the first companies there: Ballet Rambert and the Royal Ballet. She also had a performing partnership with
Anton Dolin that lasted for thirty years.
Her list of credits is long and includes being a dancer,
teacher, director and writer. Just a few
of her accomplishments include:
co-founder and prima ballerina of the English National Ballet; Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dancing; and
Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts at the University of Cincinnati.
Not bad for a young girl who began dancing on the
recommendation of a specialist who hoped it might help her turned-in legs and
flat feet!
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #44:
“Alicia Markova
was a legendary British ballerina.”
Links of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds
the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
-
Christopher
Reeve
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