On March 17, the great Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev would have turned 78 years old. Ballet classic Roland Petit called Nuriev dangerous, the press called him a frantic Tatar, and rock stars and royalty declared their love for him. ELLE - about the “ballet Russians” who have achieved success in the West.
Sarah Bernhardt believed Nijinsky greatest actor the world, the press - no less than the eighth wonder of the world. A native of Kyiv, a dancer at the Mariinsky Theater, Nijinsky made his debut in Paris, where he amazed audiences and critics with his phenomenal technique, plasticity and taste. And the most amazing thing is that his career as a dancer lasted only ten years. In 1917 he last time took the stage, and until his death in 1950, he struggled with schizophrenia, moving around psychiatric clinics. Nijinsky’s influence on world ballet is difficult to overestimate, and his diaries are still deciphered and interpreted differently by specialists.
One of the main stars of Russian ballet in the world, Nureyev was a real pop star, bright and scandalous. Difficult, quarrelsome character, arrogance, stormy personal life and the penchant for shockingness did not obscure the main thing - the incredible talent of Nuriev, who managed to combine together the traditions of ballet and current, as they say now, trends. A native of Ufa, the long-awaited son, who did not live up to the hopes of his military father, who contemptuously called Rudolf “ballerina,” made his most famous jump not on stage, but in the control zone of the Paris airport. In 1961, the Soviet dancer Nureyev suddenly ran away with 30 francs in his pocket, asking for political asylum. Thus began Nuriev’s ascent to the world ballet Olympus. Fame, money, luxury, parties at Studio 54, gold, brocade, rumors of affairs with Freddie Mercury, Yves Saint Laurent, Elton John - and best roles at the London Royal Ballet, director of ballet group Paris Grand Opera. A completely ill Nuriev spent the last hundred days of his life in his beloved Paris. He is buried there.
Another famous representative of ballet, who can safely be called a pop star, is in many ways similar to Nuriev: childhood in a Soviet province (if we consider Riga as a province - still not Moscow or Leningrad), complete misunderstanding on the part of his father and a real artistic rise outside THE USSR. Remaining in the West in 1974, Baryshnikov quickly gained a foothold at the top: first he headed the legendary New York City Ballet, then for nine years, from 1980 to 1989, he directed the no less famous American Ballet Theater. He also actively and quite successfully, although unevenly, acted in films, became a socialite, and met with Hollywood beauties Jessica Lange and Liza Minnelli. And for the new public, far from ballet (and, by the way, from Joseph Brodsky, with whom Baryshnikov had a real friendship), this incredible person became famous thanks to a small but noticeable role in the TV series “Sex in big city" Sarah Jessica Parker is his biggest fan. called Mikhail Baryshnikov a tough boy. Who would argue.
Vladimir Vasiliev - symbol Bolshoi Theater and all Russian ballet of the second half of the 20th century. Due to the fact that Vasiliev lived in the Soviet Union, his popularity in the West is much inferior to the glory of the same Baryshnikov, although art connoisseurs, of course, know and appreciate him. Vasiliev worked mainly in Europe, gradually changing his profession to choreographer. Kazan and Paris, Rome and Perm, Vilnius and Rio - the geography of Vasiliev’s creative movements affirms and confirms his cosmopolitanism.
The blond giant, Bolshoi star, Godunov, in August 1979, while on tour in the States, decided not to return home. A terrible drama unfolded, in which not only the artist himself and his wife, ballerina Lyudmila Vlasova, were involved, but also Joseph Brodsky, the FBI, and even the leaders of the United States and Soviet Union. Remaining in the States, Godunov joined the famous American Ballet Theater, which he eventually left after a quarrel with his best friend Mikhail Baryshnikov. Then there was work within the framework of his own project “Godunov and Friends”, success, an affair with actress Jacqueline Bisset and an abrupt departure from the profession. Bisset persuaded Alexander to start a film career, and he partially succeeded: “Witness” with Harrison Ford and especially “Die Hard” made yesterday’s ballet dancer a Hollywood star. However, Godunov himself did not like being on the sidelines, although those who had not even been interested in ballet had now learned about “this Russian.”
He never returned to dancing, and in 1995 he died at the age of 45. “I believe that he did not take root and died of loneliness,” said Joseph Brodsky, who took an active part in his fate as a “defector.”
Ballerinas of Russia are the national treasure of the country, their names are real brands. Lopatkina, who is celebrating her birthday today, Vishneva, Zakharova, Osipova are real cultural beacons. InStyle chose the main dancers modern Russia. They, like Kshesinskaya in her time, are real pop stars, they are more than ballerinas.
Ulyana Lopatkina
Last summer, Lopatkina, the one who is called the style icon of Russian ballet, announced her graduation from dance career. The reason is the consequences of injuries. “I thank everyone who met me at creative path! Everyone who became a mentor, friend, assistant for me, who inspired, demanded, consoled and cared for me, believed, thanked and supported! Everyone who worked next to me and with me! All my viewers, everyone who understood me and gave me applause from the audience in response!” - this entry appeared on the ballerina’s website. Two months later, Lopatkina became a student at St. Petersburg State University and decided to study Environmental Design. And this spring the Imperial porcelain factory released star figures. Lopatkin, as well as Vishnev, are symbols of St. Petersburg, it’s time to erect monuments.
Diana Vishneva
Perhaps the most famous ballerina in Russia is her. Vishneva. “They didn’t want to take me in choreographic school. Almost no one believed that I could first become the best student, then win competitions, and then get into the Mariinsky Theater. I can’t say that from childhood it was clear that Diana Vishneva would become what she is now,” says Vishneva, adding: “I rather consider myself an artist.” Prima Mariinsky Theater, world star, hostess of her own international festival CONTEXT, she declares that she is not a ballerina, but an artist. And that's true. Vishneva is already more than ballet.
Svetlana Zakharova
Modern Russian dancers and ballerinas are real citizens of the world. Prima ballerina of the Bolshoi and La Scala, Zakharova is also a true cosmopolitan. She lived in Germany, worked at the Mariinsky Theater, then moved to Moscow, and is closely connected with Italy. This is not counting constant movements from one point globe to another. The ballerina's November schedule is Beijing, Seoul, Sofia and Moscow. Zakharova was also in the State Duma, she is also a wife and mother, and loves her well-deserved popularity. The only pity is that Instagram is rare: the last post today is dated August.
Ekaterina Kondaurova
Another Mariinsky prima performed an unexpected everyday pirouette. Born in Moscow, moved to St. Petersburg and hometown doesn't want to live.
“When I began to live alone, I discovered St. Petersburg, I had more friends, and my visits to Moscow even became a burden to me. And now I generally try to avoid it. I don't like Moscow at all. I feel uncomfortable there, it’s stuffy and everything’s not right,” admits Kondaurova.
In her interviews, the ballerina appears to be very rational, but in dancing... “She is more spontaneous on stage than most of her colleagues. And everything that often looks like improvisation is actually well rehearsed,” Alexei Ratmansky speaks of her.
Maria Alexandrova
The great ballerinas of Russia have always had different characters. Here is Maria Alexandrova - this prima of the Bolshoi resigned from the theater in May last year. Herself. A lengthy post published by Alexandrova on social networks did not explain anything, but the decision was firm. “I remained at the Bolshoi on a contract, and in general I remained under a contract everywhere. Now I exist as freelancer, I dance and work where I am needed. But I remained in a relationship with the theater outside the system,” she said recently in an interview. Life goes on - Maria launches projects, dances, enjoys life.
Natalia Osipova
The list of “famous ballerinas of Russia” will be incomplete without this dancer. In her generation, Osipova is the number one star. And in general, she remains - deservedly so! - in the top list of names in world ballet. Independent, searching, Natalya changes venues, theaters, countries and everywhere shows herself in all her beauty and talent. Bolshoi, Mikhailovsky, American ballet theater, London Royal Ballet. From London she flies to Perm, from there to St. Petersburg and further - everywhere. But Britain is a second home for Osipova, just as Sergei Polunin is one of the main stage partners.
For air and light dance Ballerinas face enormous daily work from classes and rehearsals. It is not for nothing that previously only a dancer who managed to reach the pinnacle of choreographic skill and was honored to perform leading roles in classical performances was called a ballerina. “Beauty does not tolerate amateurism. To serve her means to devote yourself entirely to her, without a trace,” said the great Anna Pavlova. And biographies of truly great dancers confirm her opinion. The Russian ballet school is still considered exemplary to this day, so among the many famous dancers, we chose only its students.
Avdotya Istomina
Pushkin sang the legendary St. Petersburg ballerina in “Eugene Onegin”, and was also going to dedicate a story to her. Avdotya Istomina discovered her talent at an early age and, while still a student at the St. Petersburg Ballet School, performed in imperial theater. At the age of 17, the dancer won championship in the troupe after the debut of Acis and Galatea. Istomina's repertoire was varied, as the artist also had extraordinary dramatic talent. She also played in vaudeville and performed brilliantly in conversational roles. In addition to her stage talent, the ballerina also became famous for her ability to charm men - she was always surrounded by crowds of fans. It was she who became the reason for the famous quarter duel between Zavadovsky and Sheremetyev and their seconds Griboedov and Yakubovich.
Tamara Karsavina
The daughter of a ballet dancer, Tamara Karsavina followed in her father’s footsteps: after graduating from the Imperial Theater School, she joined the troupe Mariinsky Theater and quickly gained prima status. Karsavina successfully danced parts in classical performances - “Giselle”, “The Sleeping Beauty”, “La Bayadère” - and also inspired choreographers to create performances “for themselves”. Mikhail Fokin and Leonid Massine staged for her, and Sergei Diaghilev, having invited her to his troupe, gave best games. By the way, Tamara Karsavina was close friend and advisor to the creator of “Russian Seasons”. In 1918, the ballerina left Russia forever and settled in England, where she taught classical dance, acting and worked on productions.
Anna Pavlova
Little is known about the ballerina’s childhood—Pavlova hid it all her life. own origin. However, her career was so eventful and her talent so brilliant that details of her early biography can be ignored without a twinge of conscience. A graduate of the Imperial Theater School, Anna Pavlova was the leading dancer of the Mariinsky Theater troupe, where she performed roles in classical ballets. The ballerina gained worldwide fame after participating in Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons, although after working with him for one season, she founded her own troupe. Nevertheless, the poster with Pavlova’s silhouette remained a symbol of the famous series of touring performances. The most famous image of the ballerina is a miniature swan staged for her by Mikhail Fokin. Since 1914, Anna Pavlova lived in England and successfully toured Europe, America and even India. The great dancer died of pneumonia. It is said that her last words were: “Get me my swan costume!”
Alexei Uchitel’s film “Matilda” is showing in Russian cinemas, and in the blogosphere they are furiously arguing about the romantic relationship between Nicholas II and Kshesinskaya. But in the history of ballet there were no less scandalous and colorful love affairs.
1. Marquise Teresa de Gorla Berthelot
It is known that classical ballet in the 17th century, it was invented by Pierre Beauchamp, Jean-Baptiste Moliere and Louis XIV. And one of the most famous stars The dancer at that time was considered Teresa de Gorla Berthelot. Teresa Duparc (that was her name after her marriage) became famous thanks to her dramatic talent, dancing, amazing beauty, love stories and piquant pirouettes, during which the viewer could observe her silk stockings.
Encyclopedias usually say that it was she who became the first performer of the roles of Donna Elvira in Molière’s “Don Juan” and Andromache in the play of the same name by Jean Racine, but contemporaries discussed her lovers no less heatedly. She was a rather flighty lady, if not a courtesan, she turned the heads of the entire French high society, including the Sun King, but she was especially destructive of the flower of French literature of that time.
It all started with Moliere, who left his first star and part-time wife, Madeleine Bejart, for her sake. Then there was an affair with the poet Pierre Corneille, who dedicated many poems to her. For some time, for the sake of the poet, Duparc even left Moliere’s troupe. And then she found herself in the theater and the bed of Jean Racine, Moliere’s main rival at that time. Unfortunately, her story was interrupted too early. She died under very suspicious circumstances; for some time Racine was even accused of poisoning her.
2. Marie-Madeleine Guimard
This ballerina shone in Paris before French Revolution. She shone not only on stage; her love affairs in the capital were discussed no less than her theatrical successes. It must be said right away that fame came to her primarily as an extraordinary dancer.
Having a bright appearance, she still did not fit into the standards of that time - Guimard was too thin. Because of this, Parisian wits called her “the skeleton of grace.” However, along with the title of prima, she also had quite influential lovers.
Unfortunately, Guimard left neither memoirs nor diaries. Many of her acquaintances either wisely died before 1789 or received the line “guillotined” in their biography. So most of the facts about her life cannot now be reliably restored. But what remains in the form of rumors and references in literature is impressive.
Among her lovers was a financier and businessman, one of richest people France Jean-Joseph de Laborde, his brother - composer Jean-Benjamin de Laborde. From the latter, Guimard probably gave birth to a daughter. But everyone was eclipsed by Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise.
Charles de Rohan was not only an aristocrat, gourmet and ladies' man, but also a Marshal of France, held ministerial positions, and was patronized by Madame Pompadour. Marie-Madeleine Guimard he took on full content and spent huge sums on her entertainment. It was rumored that the ballerina almost ruined him.
With his funds, Guimard built her famous luxury hotel on the outskirts of Paris. The Temple of Terpsichore, as it was also called, was famous for its evenings, during which they gave performances beyond the bounds of decency and invited the “most lascivious girls” of the city. Contemporaries repeatedly wrote that everything ended in orgies.
3. Giovanna Bassi
The 18th century is rich in drama and Detective stories, which have never been solved. Giovanna Bassi cannot be called an outstanding ballerina, although she performed quite actively on the stage of the Swedish Opera, and the local audience received her with delight. But she went down in history not thanks to her steps, but because whirlwind romance with Count Adolf Frederic Munch - " eminence grise"and favorite of the Swedish king Gustav III.
The acquaintance of the ballerina and the influential courtier began when the courtier’s career was at the very top. His rise was greatly helped by the fact that Munch was able to reconcile the king with his wife Sophia Magdalena of Denmark. Acting as a sexologist, he “established the production” of two heirs. Gossips However, they argued that in the birth of the future Gustav IV Adolf they managed to do without a king altogether. The prince looked too much like Munch. Giovanna Bassi also gave birth, but a girl.
It is unknown whether Bassi was counting on a quiet family life with the Count, but Munch was put on trial. He was accused of having started counterfeiting Russian money on behalf of the king, and at the same time made some Swedish money. He would have been forgiven, but his patron, Gustav III, died at the hands of the conspirators. Death overtook the Swedish king at the opera during a masquerade. Munch was expelled from the country to Italy, the ballerina followed him. Bassi wanted him to marry her and recognize her daughter. The disgraced count refused her. Enraged, Bassi returned to her homeland. However, there is another version that in Italy the ballerina carried out a spy assignment for the Swedish Privy Council.
4. Teresa Elsler
It may seem that the romantic relationship between a ballerina and an aristocrat must necessarily end in either an orgy or tragedy. This is not entirely true; there are plenty of examples in history when everything is fine in the end, that is, a happy bride is led down the aisle. For example, Teresa Elsler managed to become the wife of not even a count or baron, but a real prince, the younger brother of the Prussian king Frederick William III - Adalbert of Prussia.
More noticeable in the history of ballet younger sister Elsler - Francis, or Fanny. She was called one of the most famous ballerinas of the 19th century. Strauss's son even wrote an operetta about her life, "The Dancer Fanny Elsler." Teresa was considered too tall and not so expressive. Nevertheless, it was she who managed to captivate Adalbert, who was no longer an enthusiastic young man - by that time he was 38 years old, and the ballerina, by the way, was several years older than him. Surprisingly, King Frederick William IV agreed to this morganatic marriage.
The younger, and more famous, sister Fanny was also the object of attention of persons close to the throne. For example, initially the sisters’ career was helped by Fanny’s connection with the Sicilian prince Leopoldo, who arranged ballerinas for the Naples opera and did not particularly hide his tender attitude towards the younger Elsler. It is believed that the couple even had a son.
5. Anna Pavlova
In the 20s of the 20th century, a whole wave of “Pavlova mania” swept across Europe and the United States. Cakes, tulips and newborns were named after the Russian ballerina. She performed a lot, toured until she was completely exhausted and received huge fees for that time. And next to her was almost always Victor Dandre, who served the ballerina as a manager, companion and secret husband.
When Pavlova just graduated from the Imperial Theater School, Victor Dandre seemed to her like a fairy-tale prince. A rich baron, a handsome man, an important official... Of course, Kshesinskaya actively set her up with Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich, but the aspiring ballerina did not want to be just a kept woman. And next to Dandre, she hoped for an official marriage...
Alas, Victor quickly made it clear that he could not agree to such a misalliance. The aristocrat gave her leading roles, gave her jewelry and fully provided for her, but that’s all. In the end, a break followed and Pavlova left with Diaghilev for Paris, where she triumphantly participated in the Russian Seasons.
At that moment, Dandre's life changed dramatically: he went to prison on charges of embezzlement. He doesn't have the money to pay off the debt. Then Pavlova left Diaghilev and signed an enslaving, but financially very profitable contract. In addition, she was immediately paid a rather impressive advance, which she immediately gave to her abandoned lover so that he could pay bail and get out of prison. Dandre left Russia illegally, came to her in England and asked for her hand. She agreed, but demanded that their marriage remain a secret.
6. Tamara Karsavina
Not only ballet historians, but also literary scholars dedicate monographs to the phenomenon of Tamara Karsavina. Columbine Silver Age was the subject of worship for a whole generation of Russian poets, starting with Blok.
There is nothing strange about this. Ballet stars always attract the attention of not only the rich and aristocrats; among them you can always find creative people: writers, artists and musicians. Surprisingly different. Karsavina refused many celebrities, influential and noble admirers, and married a quiet and modest nobleman Vasily Mukhin.
After Diaghilev's seasons in Paris, Karsavina became a world celebrity, she was literally besieged by admirers, but for a long time this did not in any way affect the marriage with Mukhin. The meeting in 1913 with Henry Bruce crossed everything out. English professional diplomat, Eton graduate, younger son A wealthy landowner saw her during a reception at the British Embassy and immediately fell in love. He quickly took her away from her husband, and after the revolution he took her away from Russia.
Unlike many similar stories, Henry Bruce did not demand that Karsavina leave ballet. Vice versa! He himself left the service, fulfilling, however, some assignments, and for a long time traveled with her around Europe. They first lived in France and moved to London in 1929, but Bruce returned to the Foreign Office only during the Second World War.
