Background
Karsavina, Tamara was born on March 9, 1885 in Petersburg. Daughter of Platon Karsavin.
Karsavina, Tamara was born on March 9, 1885 in Petersburg. Daughter of Platon Karsavin.
Graduated from the Petersburg Theatrical School, 1902.
Was trained by P. Gerdt and Enrico Cecchetti. Member of the Ballet of the Mariinskii Theatre from 1902. Prima-ballerina of the Mariinskii Theatre, 1912-1918.
Partner of Mikhail Fokin and star of his ballet productions. Star of the Diaghilev Ballet, 1909-1929. Left the Soviet Union, 1918.
Became an internationally known dancer in Europe. Partner of Vaclav Nijinskii. Created the female leading roles in Fokin’s L’Oiseau de Feu and Petrushka by Stravinskii, and Sheherezade with music by Rimskii-Korsakov.
From 1930, with the Ballet Rambert. Taught from 1931. Acted as a consultant and choreographer mainly on Fokin’s ballets. Vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dance in London, 1930-1955.
One of the legendary stars of the Russian ballet of the First half of the 20th century. Wrote Theatre Street, London, 1930, and Ballet Technique, New York, 1968.