Russian ballet is widely known, and in many countries Russia is considered to be the birthplace of this art. But the Russian school nevertheless owes the appearance of this phenomenon to foreigners: visitors to the French and Italians. In 1738, at the request of the visiting Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Lande, a school was founded (the modern Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg), which became the second in the world after the French and brought up the first generation of talented Russian dancers.
Agrippina Vaganova
Subtlely talented Russian and French choreographer Marius Petipa could not see the ballerina's gift in Agrippina Vaganova. He once wrote in his diaries that in the theater “they’re giving Raymond’s ballet for the twenty-ninth time, and Madame Vaganova is terrible”, so he won’t go to ballet. On the day of his eightieth birthday, Petipa left about the same record: “In the evening, my ballet The Pearl. Ms. Vaganova is terrible … I’m not going to the theater. ” Meanwhile, Grushenka Vaganova today is well known to all lovers of this bewitching art.
Agrippina Vaganova, one of the most famous ballerinas, became the first professor of choreography in Russia. The results of her work were the "education" of a galaxy of talented dancers, including Tatyana Vyacheslova, Natalya Dudinskaya, M. Semenova, G. Ulanova, Fairy Balabin, Alla Shelest and many other wonderful ballerinas. The book "Fundamentals of Classical Dance" by Vaganova was translated almost immediately after publication into almost all European languages and, as expected, became a handbook for teachers.
One of the most famous dancers in Soviet times led to the harmonious system of the tradition of imperial ballet - Russian classics. In 1957, her name was assigned to the choreographic school in Leningrad. The great merit of Agrippina Vaganova is also that when, after 1917, the entire Russian ballet “moved” to the USA, only the school of this talented ballerina remained in her homeland, from whose class all the largest dancers of the USSR left the class.
Maya Plisetskaya
One of the most beautiful ballerinas in the world entered the history of Russian ballet with its phenomenal creative longevity. She left the scene only at the age of 65. Perhaps this is because Maya Plisetskaya could not imagine life without her composer husband. With Rodion Shchedrin, a talented dancer spent most of her life. Inextricably linked with creativity and love, they stayed together for 57 years.
Matilda Kshesinskaya
One of the best ballerinas in the world was not only an outstanding dancer, but also an influential special late XIX – early XX century. During the Civil War, for example, Nicholas II, claimed that he could not do something with the artillery department, because the ballerina directly affects all matters and was personally involved in the distribution of government orders between organizations. There were rumors about a love relationship between Matilda Kshesinskaya and Nikolai Nikolaevich, perhaps she was even pregnant from the prince even before he ascended the imperial throne.
On the stage of the imperial ballet, the best ballerina in the world danced for 27 years. But then her sister Julia (officially) was called the best. Matilda Kshesinskaya performed the parts in the ballets of Lev Ivanov and M. Petipa. Six years after the start of her creative career, she was awarded a high status - “prima ballerina of the imperial theaters, ” but, according to some reports, communications at court contributed to such a rapid advancement. Despite recognition, Matilda Kshesinskaya improved her technique and became the first Russian dancer to perform 32 fouets in a row.
Anna Pavlova
The last words of the phenomenal Russian ballerina were: “Prepare my swan costume!” She died on January 21, 1931 in the Netherlands after prolonged pneumonia. And in the 20s of the last century, a real “paulomania” swept the world: roses, reminiscent of the appearance and shade of a ballet tutu of ballerinas, sold out immediately in flower shops, grabbed Pavlova perfumes and shawls from the shops, which Anna Pavlova introduced into fashion.
One of the best ballerinas in the world made a splash in Paris. For almost a century, French dancers and choreographers came to Russia to give a stunning performance, and now the Russian ballerina Pavlova appeared on the stage of the Chatelet theater in the “Dying Swan” every evening. But in Russia, at the same time, government official Viktor Dandre was tried. It was said that he spent all the money for the construction of the Okhtinsky bridge on his mistress, the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova. Much depended on her words. But Anna Pavlova did not go to Petersburg, but to America.
Tamara Krasavina
The star of the “Russian seasons” Diaghilev, who emigrated to Britain after the revolution in Russia, graduated from the Imperial College and was accepted to the Mariinsky Theater in 1902. The young dancer was patronized by the favorite of many Romanovs, Matilda Kshesinskaya, but Anna Pavlova disliked her. Speeches Krasavina appreciated by the French public. The Diaghilev ballet made her popular in Europe.
The charming Russian ballerina was courted by Karl Mannerheim (the same Swedish nobleman from Finland, an officer in the Russian service, who designed the French defense line), and the life doctor of the Russian court Sergey Botkin (though he himself was already married to his daughter at that time the founder of the gallery Pavel Tretyakov), choreographer Mikhail Fokin (three times he made an offer to his ward). But she refused. Krasavina became the wife of a poor nobleman Mukhin, who attracted the girl with a knowledge of musical art, a passion for Russian ballet and kindness.
After the performances, he often drove the ballerina to the hotel in a private car, Marcel Proust, who copied his heroes from the regulars of the “Russian Seasons”. She posed for Valentina Serov, Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, Sergey Sudeikin, Leon Bakst. Anna Akhmatova and Mikhail Kuzmin dedicated poetry to Krasavina. In 1914, the publication “Bouquet for Krasavina” was even published, which included works by artists and poets created in her honor.
Svetlana Zakharova
Svetlana Zakharova deservedly entered the list of the best ballerinas of our century. In 1995, she received an offer to continue her dance education at the A. Ya. Vaganova Academy, and immediately from her last year, and the next year she performed at the Mariinsky Theater. Prior to this, the girl studied for six years in the class of Valeria Selugina at the Kiev Choreographic School. The first serious performance of Zakharova was the well-known production of the Bakhchisarai Fountain, but the ballerina leading her part in the play Giselle brought real success. In 2008, Svetlana became the first Russian ballerina to be honored - the famous Milanese La Scala Theater invited her to sign a contract.
Galina Ulanova
The list of Russian ballerinas, the most talented and outstanding, included many of the students of Agrippina Vaganova, including the famous Galina Ulanova. She managed to become the most titled ballerina in the history of Russian (imperial and Soviet) ballet and the greatest dancer of the twentieth century. The debut of Galina Ulanova took place in 1928, when she performed on the stage the part of Florina in Sleeping Beauty. The first leading party went to her at the age of nineteen - Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.
“Dying Swan” Galina Ulanova then danced all her life, and soon after her debut she became one of Stalin's favorites. There were one of the most beautiful ballerinas in history and other high-ranking fans. For example, after signing the agreement with Germany, Ribbentrop was shown Russian ballet, and the next day Ulanova was sent a basket of flowers from the Minister of the Third Reich.
Ulyana Lopatkina
Ulyana Lopatkina is deservedly called the second Maya Plisetskaya, but the once-famous modern ballerina failed at the entrance halls in the capital and passed the exams at the Leningrad Ballet School in three. The jury was wary of the girl’s physique. With a weight of 52 kg, she was unusually high for a ballerina (175 cm). This could make it difficult to choose a partner, and large brushes and sloppy feet would look ugly from the stage. But the charm of Ulyana Lopatkina made a positive impression on the examiners.
The dancer ended her career recently - in 2017. The reason was old injuries that made themselves felt by sharp pain. Due to injuries, the ballerina could not walk, and the complicated operation performed by American doctors did not solve the problem. But Ulyana Lopatkina hopes that she can continue her creative biography in a different direction. In 2017, for example, she entered SPbU for the specialty “Landscape Design”.
Polina Semionova
In 2018, Russian ballet soloist Polina Semionova, performing at the Berlin State Opera, was named the best dancer. The Russian woman left to dance at the American Ballet Theater at the age of 17. Vladimir Malakhov literally abducted a girl from the Moscow Academy, making him the first soloist in Berlin. The title of one of the best ballerinas in the world is now received for the second time. Her first award was in 2007. The Berliners called the young Muscovite: “our ballet chick” and “baby ballerina”. Malakhov’s calculation was justified - the chick turned into a beautiful swan, which is not surprising.
