Background
Fokin, Mikhail was born on May 5, 1880 in Petersburg.
Fokin, Mikhail was born on May 5, 1880 in Petersburg.
Graduated from the Petersburg Theatre School, 1898. Pupil of N. Legat, P. Karsavin and P. Gerdt.
Debut, 1898,attheMariinskii Theatre. First ballet production, 1905 (Atsis i Galateia). Worked closely with A. Benois, L. Bakst, N. Roerikh, A. Golovin, M. Dobuzhinskii, N. Goncharova and I. Stravinskii.
He was a daring experimenter, adopting music which had never previously been used for ballet. In 1909-1912 and 1914, chief choreographer of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Taught at the Petersburg Theatre School, 1901-1911.
Among his pupils were E. Gerdt, L. Lopukhova and P. Vladimirov. In 1918, went to work in Sweden. From 1921, worked in the USA. With the Paris Opera, 1933-1934, and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1936-1939.
Directed a ballet studio in New York from 1923 until his death.
