Throwback Thursday and Vasili Vainonen
Born in 1901, Vasili Ivanovich Vainonen
was born in Russia in 1901. He was a famous Soviet choreographer who
worked with the Kirov Ballet. He also performed as a dancer doing roles such as:
The Moor (Petrushka), Clown (The Fairy
Doll), Satyr (Les Saisons).
He began choreographing at the age of 19
and was quickly recognized. However, his early career at the Kirov almost ended
when one of his pieces in the ballet The
Golden Age was censored for using
western dance styles. But he persisted and one of his ballets that is still
performed today is Flames of Paris. It
premiered at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad on November 7, 1932.
Vainonen is also known for his 1934 version of The Nutcracker which was revived in 1954 and is available on DVD in
a 1994 version. In Baryshnikov’s production of The Nutcracker, he used Vainonen’s “Snowflake Waltz”, giving him
credit for the choreography.
In 1947 he received the Stalin Prize for
Flames of Paris, and from 1951-1953
he headed the ballet troupe of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater.
Vainonen died on March 23, 1964 and is
buried in Moscow at Novodevichy Cemetery.
From the Big
Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Dance History Secret #324:
“Vasili Vainonen was a Soviet
choreographer whose work was partially censored.”
Link of the Day:
Quote of the Day:
“...the
hardest word to swallow is almost.”
― R. YS Perez, I Hope You Fall in Love: Poetry Collection
― R. YS Perez, I Hope You Fall in Love: Poetry Collection
Help expand the knowledge base!
Leave a
comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!
Check
out my coloring books! They are available on Amazon.
Want
to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:
Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:
For interesting articles involving mental health:
