Background
Svetlova, Marina was born on May 3, 1922 in Paris. Arrived in the United States, 1940. Daughter of Max and Tamara (Andreieff) Hartman.
Svetlova, Marina was born on May 3, 1922 in Paris. Arrived in the United States, 1940. Daughter of Max and Tamara (Andreieff) Hartman.
Studied with Vera Trefilova, Paris, 1936. Studied with L. Egorova and M. Kschessinska, Paris, 1939. Studied with A. Vilzak, New York City, 1957.
Doctor (honorary), Federation Francaise de Danse, 1988.
She began studying dance as a young child and made her professional debut as a child performer in Paris in 1931 with the experimental ballet troupe of Ida Rubinstein. In her late teens she became a soloist with the Original Ballet Russe, dancing with that company for three seasons. While there she notably created roles in David Lichine"s Graduation Ball and George Balanchine"s Balustrade.
After leaving the Ballet Russe, Svetlova came to the United States to dance as a guest artist with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City.
She then joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, where she appeared for seven seasons, beginning in 1943-1944. In 1951 she danced with the New York City Opera Ballet as a featured soloist for one season.
From 1944-1969 Svetlova led her own touring dance concert group. She died in Bloomington, Indiana in 2009.
Member of National Society Arts and Letters (national dance chairman), Conference Ballet in Higher Education, American Guild Museum Artists (board directors).