Nathalie Krassovska

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Nathalie Krassovska
Ballerina
PKrassovska, Markova, Riabouchinska and Danilova in the ballet,
Krassovska, Markova, Riabouchinska, and Danilova in the ballet “Pas de Quatre”

Nathalie "Natasha" Krassovska (1918–2005) was a Russian born prima ballerina and teacher of classical ballet most noted for her work with the

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
. Following her decades-long career, she moved to the U.S., where she founded the Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse. Krassovska taught, choreographed and performed until her death.

Early life

Krassovska was born Nathalie Leslie in

Diaghilev's Ballets Russes
.

Young Nathalie began her ballet studies with her grandmother, but her formal training took place in Europe. In Paris, she trained with Olga Preobrajenska, St Petersburg's pre-Revolutionary prima ballerina. In London, she studied with Russian ballet master Nikolai Legat. Under the name of Nathalie Leslie she danced with Ida Rubinstein's company at the Paris Opera. At age 14, she was selected by Bronislava Nijinska for her company, the Théâtre de la Danse. In 1933, she joined George Balanchine's short-lived Les Ballets. After Les Ballets, Krassovska partnered with Serge Lifar for a tour of South America.

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

Krassovska joined the Ballet Russe de Paris in 1935 and

Le Spectre de la Rose
and other ballets. She advanced to the position of ballerina (principal dancer) in 1938, and performed with the group until 1949.

During World War II, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo moved its home base to New York

New York Met, alongside Alicia Markova, Alexandra Danilova and Mia Slavenska. Anton Dolin’s restaging of the 1845 Jules Perrot
ballet is an evocation of four legendary ballerinas from the Romantic era.

In 1949, Krassovska first danced the title role in

Montreal Daily Star dance critic S. Morgan-Powell reportedly wrote, "Her dancing was characterized by a purity of style not often seen nowadays in ballet."[4] She was also noted for her performances in Les Sylphides, Scheherazade, The Snow Maiden, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.[5] In an American Dancer article, reviewer Albertina Vitak said, "Krassovska stands out over all and is one of the most valuable assets of the company."[6]

Krassovska's repertoire was not limited to

Leonide Massine's 1940 ballet based on cartoons from the popular magazine. For Capriccio Espagnol, another Massine work, Krassovska and the cast were required to execute Flamenco steps such as the bulerías and seguidilla.[7]

Career after Ballet Russe

Krassovska briefly joined

Stoll Theatre
, Krassovska and Gilpin triumphed in Massine's Le Beau Danube. Their partnership became a major company attraction. After the first season, Markova left due to artistic conflicts with Dolin, and Krassovska took over as first ballerina. When Markova returned to the company (this time as guest artist), both she and Krassovska had the rank and status of prima ballerina, but Markova received top billing.

Krassovska stayed with Festival Ballet under contract through 1955, and then as guest artist through 1960. She continued to perform the standard 19th century repertory. She danced in Great Britain under both her stage name, Nathalie Krassovska, and her birth name Nathalie Leslie. As a guest artist with the Ballet Russe in the late 1950s, she used the surname Krassovska.

Krassovska moved to U.S. in the 1960s. Having toured the country a number of times, she decided that

Dallas, Texas, with its flowers, trees and pleasant climate was one of the nicest cities.[8]
She opened a dance school at her home and founded a student company, Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse. She became an American citizen in 1964.

Krassovska was invited frequently as a guest teacher and coach throughout the Southeastern U.S. She danced in local productions of The Nutcracker into her 80s and produced her last concert, Tribute to Ballet Russe, at Southern Methodist University in 1997.[5]

Film

In 1941 and 1942, while a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Krassovska appeared in two movies choreographed by Massine, Spanish Fiesta (an adaptation of Capriccio Espagnol) and

David O. Selznick and he offered her a movie contract.[9]
Although it was a very difficult decision, she chose to remain with the ballet company.

For the 1953 film Never Let Me Go, Krassovska doubled in long shots for Gene Tierney in her role as a Russian ballet dancer.[10]

Krassovska was interviewed and shown in archival footage for the 2005 documentary movie Ballets Russes.

Personal life

Her romantic life was reputedly eventful and she was briefly married to an Austrian count.[1] Another interest, outside of ballet, was the Eastern Orthodox Church. Krassovska helped raise $850,000 toward a construction project for the St. Seraphim Orthodox Church in Dallas.

Death

Nathalie Krassovska died on February 8, 2005, due to complications from surgery. She is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.

References

  1. ^ a b The Independent, Obituaries, Nathalie Krassovska, Star ballerina of rare talent and charm, Nadine Meisner (February 16, 2005) [1][dead link]
  2. ^ "Nathalie Krassovska". telegraph.co.uk. April 12, 2005. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  3. ^ "Diaghilev's Ballets Russes 1909-1929". Russian Ballet History. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ New York Times, Nathalie Krassovska, 86, Dancer Particularly Known for 'Giselle,' Dies, Jack Anderson (February 11, 2005) https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/arts/dance/nathalie-krassovska-86-dancer-particularly-known-for-giselle-dies.html?_r=0
  5. ^ a b Los Angeles Times, Obituaries, Nathalie Krassovska, 86; Ballerina Praised for Lyrical Performances (February 17, 2005) http://articles.latimes.com/2005/feb/17/local/me-passings17.3
  6. ISBN 978-0195399332
    .
  7. ISBN 9780786417520
    .
  8. ^ Andros on Ballet, Dick Andros (first published September 1997, updated February 2005) http://michaelminn.net/andros/biographies/krassovska_nathalie/
  9. ^ Internet Movie Database, Nathalie Krassovska https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469986/?ref_=nmbio_ql
  10. ISBN 0-7864-1124-4
    .

External links
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