Throwback
Thursday and Genia Melikova
Born as
Eugenie Melnichendo in France, Genia emigrated with her Russian parents to the
United States, where they became citizens.
Her training
included studying with Julia Sedova in Nice, and with Anatole Vilzak and Igor
Schwezoff in New York. She performed at Radio Cit Music Hall and in various
other venues in NYC. She then briefly became a soloist with Ballet Theatre from
1949-1950.
She left for
Europe and joined the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, and in 1954 was
promoted to ballerina. Here she became the first Western ballerina to perform
with Rudolf Nureyev after his defection in 1961. She stayed with this company
until it dissolved in 1962, after which she moved to England and joined the
London Festival Ballet, where she performed until she was invited to join the
Grand Ballet Classique de France in 1964. In 1965 she toured the US with this
company.
Always regarded
as a gifted teacher, she taught for 26 years at the Dance Division of the
Juilliard School. She was hired based on the recommendation of Antony Tudor,
with whom she had worked in Europe.
During the
mid-1970's Ms. Melikova directed the Bridgeport Ballet Company in Connecticut
and also the Bernhard Ballet.
Genia
Melikova died in New York in 2004. She was 74 years old.
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Factoid #188:
“Genia Melikova she was the first
Western ballerina to perform with Rudolf Nureyev after his defection in 1961.”
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Quote of the Day:
“The secret
to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure.
So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The
secret is not to look back.”
― Norman Rockwell
― Norman Rockwell
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