Serafina Astafieva

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Serafina Astafieva, c. 1890s

Serafina Astafieva (Russian: Серафима Александровна Астафьева; 1876 – 13 September 1934) was a Russian dancer and ballet teacher.[1]

Astafieva was a pupil of the

Mathilde Kschessinskaya. From 1909-1911 Astafieva performed with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. After retiring from performing she opened the Russian Dancing Academy at The Pheasantry on King's Road in Chelsea, London. Her pupils included Anton Dolin, Margot Fonteyn,[1] Alicia Markova,[2] Hermione Darnborough,[3] Madeleine Vyner,[4] and Joan Lawson.[5]

A blue plaque unveiled in 1968 commemorates Astafieva at 152 King's Road in Chelsea.[6]

She is referenced as "Grishkin" in T. S. Eliot's poem Whispers of Immortality.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2004) Oxford University Press
  2. ^ Alicia Markova, Ballerina Known for Giselle, Dies at 94 The New York Times
  3. ^ Dancing Times, July 2009
  4. .
  5. ^ "Joan Lawson Archive". Archives Hub. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  6. ^ "ASTAFIEVA, PRINCESS SERAPHINE (1876-1934)". English Heritage. Retrieved 18 August 2012.