2 3 Throwback Thursday and Nathalie Krassovska | Ballet Webb

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Throwback Thursday and Nathalie Krassovska



Throwback Thursday and Nathalie Krassovska

Born on June 3, 1917, in Russia, Russian-Scottish Nathalie Leslie Krassovska grew up in Western Europe and received her dance training in Paris and London. She danced in Balanchine’s short-lived Les Ballets 1933, but first gained recognition  in 1936 as a member of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. Here she met Michel Fokine who coached her in many of his pieces.

In 1938 this company merged with a company called the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and Nathalie Krassovska became one of its principal dancers. The company soon established its base in the United States.

She first performed Giselle in Montreal in 1949, and it soon became her signature role. Acclaimed as a great beauty, she was known for her lyricism and purity of style but also performed unexpected roles such as characters in comedies by Massine.

In 1950 she joined the London Festival Ballet, where sh remained until 1955. In Great Britain she danced under her given name, Natalie Leslie.

In 1963 she settled in Dallas where she established a school and student company called Ballet Jeunesse. She died from surgical complications on February 8, 2005 and is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.

From the  Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Factoid #144:
“Ballet Russes dancer Nathalie Krassovska was known for her lyricism.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
"It was a very hard decision…"
-         Nathalie Krassovska on turning down a movie contract from
David O. Selznick


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