Throwback Thursday and Alexandra Danilova
Known to her friends as Choura, Alexandra Danilova’s career
included performing with The Imperial
Russian Ballet, and the
history-changing Ballet Russe. Many dancers today remember her as a teacher
at the School of American Ballet.
She was known for a stage presence so brilliant that she
commanded the audience’s attention even when she wasn't actually dancing. An
extremely versatile artist, she danced everything from Swan Lake to contemporary roles, and even performed in some experimental
works.
She was born near St. Petersburg, in Russia on November 20,
1903, and raised by relatives and foster parents. She was accepted as a student by the Imperial
Ballet School when she was eight years old.
In 1920, she entered the company, The
Maryinsky Ballet. Later, she danced
with Diaghilev and his Ballet Russe, followed by various other Ballet
Russe companies. With the coming of
World War II, Ballet Russe became an
American company and Danilova toured the U.S. with them until the early 1950s.
In 1946, she became an American citizen. For many years she taught at The School of American Ballet and was in
demand as a guest teacher across the country.
Although she was married and divorced twice, she never had children. She said: “I sacrificed marriage, children and country
to be a ballerina, and there was never any misunderstanding on my part: I knew the price.”
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
Dance History Factoid #56:
“ Alexandra Danilova was a famous ballerina with The Imperial
Russian Ballet and the Ballet Russe.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
““Sometimes when you sacrifice something
precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone
else.”
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
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