Background
Messerer, Sulamif was born in 1909 in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius.
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Sulamif Mikhailovna Messerer
Edit ProfilePrima-ballerina ballet teacher
Career
Prima-ballerina with the Bolshoi Theatre for 25 years, and for 35 years teacher of ballet. Sister of the dancer and choreographer, Asaf Messerer. The prima-ballerina Maia Plisetskaia is her niece.
Trained at the Moscow Choreographic School under Vasilii Tikhomirov. In 1926, became a principal dancer. In 1933, first Soviet ballerina allowed to go on tour in the West (with her brother Asaf as a partner).
Performed in Paris, Berlin and Scandinavia. Defected in Tokyo in February 1980, with her son Mikhail, who was a principal with the Bolshoi. Holds classes for the Royal Ballet Company, the Royal Ballet School, Sadlers Wells and Ballet Rambert.
Also runs her own school in London, Dancework.
