Thursday, July 19, 2018

Throwback Thursday and Valentina Blinova



Throwback Thursday and Valentina Blinova

There are several photographs of Valentina Blinova on the internet, but factual information about her life is scarce. One source http://michellepotter.org/articles/valentina-blinova-an-unexpected-find quotes Kathrine Sorley Walker as saying: “she was not trained at the Imperial School in St Petersburg but was ‘the product of a course founded after the Revolution in an attempt to reform teaching methods.”

Valentina Blinova moved to Germany after her training and went on to dance in Monte Carlo. She soon established a partnership with Valentin Froman and in 1936 traveled to Australia with de Basil’s company.

Here is an article of the time (from the same source quoted above) that describes a typical dancing day in the life of Valentina Blinova:

“A typical day in the life of Valentina Blinova, one of the principal dancers of Colonel de Basil’s Monte Carlo Russian Ballet.
Up at 8.30 in the morning. A cold shower, gymnastics and physical exercises for twenty minutes. A cup of coffee with some toast for “breakfast.” Then a brisk walk to the theatre. Practice. Then rehearsal till quarter to one. Lunch comprising steak or other meat, salad, a sweet, no alcoholic drink, no smoking. Back to the theatre for rehearsal at 2.30 or 3 o’clock until 5.30 or 6. Home for a rest. A cup of tea. Then if she is dancing in the first ballet back at the theatre at 7 o’clock (no dinner). After the performance supper comprising meat, salad and perhaps a glass of Australian wine, which the principals of the Russian Ballet are very fond of. Then to bed.
This is Blinova’s daily routine, the only variation being Sunday which is spent in the open air—in the hills or the bush or on the beach.”


From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Factoid #141:
 “Valentina Blinova was a dancer with the Ballet Russes.

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Reality continues to ruin my life.”
― Bill WattersonThe Complete Calvin and Hobbes

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