Ulanova Galina Sergeevna (biography is presented below) - the famous Russian ballerina and teacher. People's Artist of the USSR. Repeated winner of many state awards. She received the following international awards: Oscar Parselli Prize, Anna Pavlova Prize, and Commander's Order for achievements in the field of literature and art. She was an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Childhood
Galina Ulanova was born in St. Petersburg in 1909. Both parents of the girl were ballet dancers at the Mariinsky Theater. Father - Sergey Nikolaevich - worked as a ballet director, and mother - Maria Fedorovna - taught choreography. In the difficult post-revolutionary years, Galina's parents performed in cinemas before showing pictures. There was no one to leave the girl with at home, so I had to take her with me. Through the whole city in snow or rain, they walked with Galina in their arms into the unheated halls. And then, shivering from the cold, Maria Fedorovna took off her boots, put on pointe shoes and went out to the audience with a smile.
At 9 years old, her mother identified the girl in a choreographic school. Before entering, Maria Fedorovna went to church with her daughter and prayed that Galina would be accepted and she would study well. But little Ulanova had no desire to become a ballerina at all. Galina did not want to do it and constantly asked her mother to take her back. Young Ulanova loved to wear a sailor suit, swim and go fishing with her father. And in general, the girl dreamed of surfing the sea.
Once in a boarding school, Galina Ulanova became isolated in herself. The first classes were associated with hard work, fainting students and cold rooms. Back in 1922, Galina, along with Slava Zakharov, danced a mazurka in Pakhita. Then no one even imagined that the girl would make a great ballerina, and the boy would become a famous choreographer.
First performances
In 1928, Galina Ulanova (biography, personal life of the artist is known to all her fans) graduated from the choreographic school. According to the results of the final performance, the girl was accepted to the Leningrad Theater of Ballet and Opera (later the Kirov Theater). The ballerina's debut performance took place at the Mariinsky Theater. The talented artist immediately attracted the attention of critics. Odette-Odile in Swan Lake - this was the first part that Galina Ulanova danced at age 19. The height and weight of the ballerina at that time were 165 centimeters and 48 kilograms respectively.
The Bakhchisarai Fountain
This performance, staged by Rostislav Zakharov, made a lot of noise in the theatrical life of the Northern capital. They were also interested in the premiere in Moscow. Galina Ulanova, whose personal life was very full, played one of the leading roles. Spectators and critics were thrilled. It was decided to organize a tour. By the way, the initiator of this was Klimenty Voroshilov. It’s just that the drug addict of the USSR defense really liked the performance. In 1935, the Bakhchisaray Fountain, along with Esmeralda and Swan Lake, was brought to Moscow.
Acquaintance with Stalin
For the first time, Joseph Vissarionovich saw Ulanova in Esmeralda. The ballerina played the role of Diana. In the course of the play, Galina took aim from the bow towards the box where Stalin was sitting. The ballerina’s heart froze: the NKVD could easily accuse the actress of attempting the leader. But nothing worked out - Joseph Vissarionovich invited the whole troupe to receive the Kremlin.
After the banquet, 25-year-old Galina was asked to go to the cinema and was seated next to the leader. Reporters later asked Ulanova if she was scared. The ballerina said that there was no fear, only a sense of embarrassment due to the high status of Stalin.
Joseph Vissarionovich praised the ballerina like this: "Galina is a classic." Four times the artist was awarded the Stalin Prize. But, despite the received ranks and titles, Ulanova did not want to have any relations with the authorities. Although it was the Kremlin that turned it into an ideological icon and a symbol of Soviet ballet.
First novel
In 1940, the premiere of the play "Romeo and Juliet". It is clear that the main character was played by Ulyanova. And the role of Romeo went to Konstantin Sergeyev. Over time, their stage performance grew into love. According to others, a very deep feeling arose between Galina and Konstantin. Sergeyev always called Ulanova to you.
It all ended with the transfer of the ballerina to the capital. Their duet broke up, and Konstantin himself left the play and did not dance Romeo with anyone else.
Job in Moscow
After the war, the life of Galina Ulanova changed. The management made it clear that it was necessary to move to Moscow. And the ballerina was transferred almost by order. This was a big blow for Galina, because she was separated not only from her beloved theater and beloved city, but also with her beloved person.
There were no relatives in the capital, so the dancer lived in hotels. The leadership and colleagues of the ballerina treated her kindly. Galina, in turn, also tried not to disappoint them. Ulanova was not deprived of awards and titles, but they tried to make her a columnar noblewoman.
Although if Galina Sergeevna was against, then any question was removed by itself. Once, the secretary of the party committee of the Bolshoi Theater asked her to speak and thank the country's leadership on behalf of the artists. Ulanova said she is engaged in ballet, not politics. She was not bothered with such requests anymore. But any ceremonial performance or “court” concert could not do without the participation of a ballerina.
Personal life
This is probably the only topic that Galina Ulanova did not really like to talk about. The husbands of the artist in most cases were respectable people of age. According to rumors, she entered into her first marriage at the age of 17. The bald accompanist Isaac Melikovsky became the chosen one of Galina. But soon they parted. Ulanova’s second marriage was also short-lived. The artist never had children. Already at the age, Galina Sergeevna admitted that her parents forbade her to give birth. Mother clearly made it clear to the girl that the children and stage life are simply incompatible.
Marriage with Zavadsky
Ulanova met Yuri Zavadsky on vacation in Barvikha. He was 16 years older than Galina. The girl sunk into his heart. Soon Zavadsky came to St. Petersburg to get the hands of the famous ballerina. Yuri succeeded, although subsequently the couple lived in different apartments and rarely met. After the war, Zavadsky and Ulanova divorced, but remained close friends. Yuri regularly went to his ex-wife for tea. And for the director’s funeral, the dancer sent a wreath with the inscription: "Zavadsky from Ulanova."
The most vivid novel
It happened with the actor and director Ivan Bersenev. The lovers spent two wonderful years together. Ivan Nikolayevich lived with his previous wife, Sofia Giazintova, for thirty-five years. He loved his wife very much and was very upset by the breakup, but could not help himself. First, Ivan and Galina met at the Metropol, and then moved to Ulanova’s apartment on Novoslobodskaya. After the death of Bersenev in 1951, the ballerina moved to a high-rise on Kotelnicheskaya. At the funeral of Ivan Nikolaevich at the tomb, two women cried - the dancer Galina Ulanova and the legal wife Sofya Giatsintova.
Meeting with Ryndin
In the late 50s, the ballerina met Vadim Ryndin. He worked as an artist at the Bolshoi Theater. Like her previous companions, Ryndin was very fond of Galina. But the artist had a weakness that he could not overcome - an addiction to alcohol. As a result, Ulanova simply kicked him out.
Once the ballerina was asked if she regrets anything in her personal life. Thinking, Galina Sergeevna replied that she would like to have a family, a house, to learn how to cook well. But even after the end of her career, she was not able to do this.
Farewell performance
In 1960, Galina Ulanova (biography, personal life of the artist are presented in this article) gave a farewell performance at the Bolshoi Theater. The actress danced "Chopiniana". A whole era has passed between her debut production and the farewell party.
Galina Sergeevna left the stage, but did not leave the theater. For more than thirty years, she worked as a tutor-tutor, raising a whole galaxy of such talented students as Marika Sabirova, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Nina Semizorova, Nina Timofeeva, Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev and others.
Opening of the monument
In 1990, the grand opening of the monument in honor of Galina Ulanova took place in Stockholm. It was the only monument to Russian people in the West, put to him during his lifetime.
When journalists asked Bengdt Hegger (president of the UNESCO Dance Commission) why Ulanova was chosen, he called the ballerina "the highest height in art." Hegger also spoke about her unique ability to convey to people through ballet simple human feelings - truth, goodness and beauty.
Galina Ulanova herself during the opening of the monument modestly stood aside and did not even look at her bronze statue. And when the camera was directed at the ballerina, she retreated behind someone's back or hid her face in a fur collar, stubbornly repeating that the monument was erected not to her, but to the ballet.
About the West and Nureyev
In an interview, Galina Ulanova, whose growth was indicated above, spoke of the West as follows: "Everything is very sensible and rationally arranged for them." But when asked about whether she would like to live there, the ballerina answered in the negative.
Everyone knew that the famous artist Rudolf Nuriev was forced to leave his homeland and live in Europe. Every time Galina Sergeevna came to Paris, he expressed a desire to meet her. She never condemned his lack of return in public, but she delicately refused to meet. Nuriev always sent flowers to Ulanova’s hotel room. Rudolph himself was never admitted to her.
Acquaintance with Agafonova
In the late 70s, Galina Ulanova, whose biography is an example to follow for all ballerinas, met journalist Tatyana Agafonova. She became the personal secretary of the artist and settled in her apartment. Tatyana was 20 years younger than the great ballerina. Their cohabitation caused bewilderment of all, and also gave rise to a lot of gossip and gossip. Gradually, old acquaintances and friends became rare guests in the Ulanovo house.
Tatyana completely relieved Galina Sergeevna of household worries. After all, Ulanova did not even imagine how to call the plumbing if the tap leaks. She had no idea where the savings bank was, and did not know how to turn on the TV and the washing machine. In 1993, Agafonova became seriously ill. Galina Sergeevna learned to cook, do massage and began to care for Tatyana. Ulanova even had to abandon long trips, but she did not give up work and went to the theater every day. In 1994, Agafonova died.
Loneliness
Galina Ulanova was very upset by Tatyana’s death and handed over. The artist spent almost a year in the hospital, and then returned to her empty apartment. Many people offered her help, but Galina Sergeyevna thanked and politely refused. She cleaned herself, went to the store, cooked. Moreover, the dishes were the simplest - sandwiches and stewed vegetables. Ulanova was very happy when friends came to visit and brought her cottage cheese or fruit. Galina Sergeevna did not understand much from what was happening in the world around her. She stopped reading newspapers and watching TV. The artist again got used to loneliness. At the Golden Mask Award in 1995, the ballerina was surprisingly sociable - she talked about the meaning of art and talked about her own life. But no one heard the artist. What Ulanova really did not refuse was sincerity. After reading Bella Akhmadullina’s poem dedicated to Maya Plisetskaya, she said with an ironic smile to the poetess: “I read the text four times, but couldn’t understand anything. It’s a pity that nobody will write such a thing about me. ”
