Background
Russakoff grew up in Saint St. Petersburg, Russia, where for a short while he attended the Imperial Ballet School.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Senia Russakoff
Edit ProfileCareer
Settling in Boston, he became well known as a teacher of ballet and character dance from 1920-1978. Ray Bolger was among his students, later to become famous with his role as the Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Ounces American dancer/choreologist Richard Holden gained his first exposure to Russian folk and character styles from Russakoff.
Many dancers on tour in Boston visited his studio, known as the “school of leaps and bounds”.
In 1926 he formed the Boston Ballet Concerto Company, the first of several ballet groups that he started, usually performing at Jordan Hall in the New England Conservatory. Among other ballets, he produced Anna Karenina, based on Tolstoy's novel with music by Sydney Cahan, who was also Russakoff’s class pianist of many years.
During World World War II Russakoff worked for the United Service Organizations.
Membership
Leaving Russia during the Russian Revolution he danced in various theaters in Copenhagen, then came to the United States in 1907 where he joined the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuits as a member of the Golden Troupe of Russian dancers. He also was a member of Anna Pavlova’s company until 1919.
