2 3 Throwback Thursday and Irina Kolpakova | Ballet Webb

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Throwback Thursday and Irina Kolpakova


Throwback Thursday and Irina Kolpakova

Born May 23, 1933, Irina Kolpakova was a Russian ballerina who graduated from the Leningrad school in 1951. This was only a few months before her teacher – the renowned Agrippina Vaganova – died.

Kolpakova was known as a lyrical ballerina with beautiful line and clean technique. She was particularly noted for her work in classics like The Sleeping Beauty, dancing as Aurora or Princes Florine; and in Giselle, Cinderella, and Nutcracker. But she could also shine in contemporary roles, one example being Coast of Hope.

In 1965 she was awarded the Gold Star at the International Festival of Dance in Paris. During the 1990s she worked at American Ballet Theater as a coach and choreographer, and today is a professor of classical dance at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg.

She is married to ballet dancer Vladilen Semenov, and they live in the famous Tolstoy House in St. Petersburg.

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Dance History Factoid #109:  
“Irina Kolpakova was the last dancer trained by Agrippina Vaganova.

                Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Vaganova told us to use all parts of our body together at the same time. Not only this movement for the leg, this movement for the arms, this movement you’re supposed to learn how to use for your head, neck. No, all together, all the time. And she was huge—in Paris they called her the Queen of the Variations. She was … amazing. And she was really smart. She combined French method with Danish. I think that’s unique. Her method was unique.”
- Irina Kolpakova

                Help expand the knowledge base!
 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:


No comments:

Post a Comment