Russian-Soviet Ballerina. She was generally regarded as the first 'Soviet' ballerina. Daughter of Vasily Geltser, mime artist and ballet master of the Bolshoi ballet and also had the added distinction of co-writing the original libretto for 'Swan Lake'. She studied at the Bolshoi School from 1884 and graduated into the company in 1894. She had further studies with Christian Johansson and Petipa in St. Petersburg. She went there in 1896 where she danced with the Maryinsky until 1898 when she returned to the Bolshoi and was promoted to first ballerina in 1901. A stocky dancer with a robust, even heroic style, she was the definitive Bolshoi ballerina in the early part of the 20th century and one of the strongest dancers of her day. She was frequently cast in Gorsky's ballet and was a performer of enormous personality, particulary suited to dramtic roles. She created Swanilda in Gorsky's 'Coppelia' in 1905 and title rols in many of his other ballets including; 'Harlequinade' in 1907, 'Salammbo' in 1910, 'Le Corsaire' in 1912 and 'The Little Humpbacked Horse' in 1914. She danced all the traditional roles but excelled as Kitri and Esmerelda. She appeared with Diagilev's Ballet Russes in Paris in 1910, the following year appearing with the Bolshoi in London. She danced Odette-Odile in the first complete 'Swan Lake' ever seen in America in 1911 but her most significant creation was of Tao-Hoa in the groundbreaking Soviet ballet 'The Red Poppy' in 1927 choreographed her husband and stage partner Vassily Tikhomirov. She retired from the Bolshoi in 1935 although continued to tour extensively in Russia. One of the first ballerinas to be awarded the Artist of the USSR (1925).
Russian-Soviet Ballerina. She was generally regarded as the first 'Soviet' ballerina. Daughter of Vasily Geltser, mime artist and ballet master of the Bolshoi ballet and also had the added distinction of co-writing the original libretto for 'Swan Lake'. She studied at the Bolshoi School from 1884 and graduated into the company in 1894. She had further studies with Christian Johansson and Petipa in St. Petersburg. She went there in 1896 where she danced with the Maryinsky until 1898 when she returned to the Bolshoi and was promoted to first ballerina in 1901. A stocky dancer with a robust, even heroic style, she was the definitive Bolshoi ballerina in the early part of the 20th century and one of the strongest dancers of her day. She was frequently cast in Gorsky's ballet and was a performer of enormous personality, particulary suited to dramtic roles. She created Swanilda in Gorsky's 'Coppelia' in 1905 and title rols in many of his other ballets including; 'Harlequinade' in 1907, 'Salammbo' in 1910, 'Le Corsaire' in 1912 and 'The Little Humpbacked Horse' in 1914. She danced all the traditional roles but excelled as Kitri and Esmerelda. She appeared with Diagilev's Ballet Russes in Paris in 1910, the following year appearing with the Bolshoi in London. She danced Odette-Odile in the first complete 'Swan Lake' ever seen in America in 1911 but her most significant creation was of Tao-Hoa in the groundbreaking Soviet ballet 'The Red Poppy' in 1927 choreographed her husband and stage partner Vassily Tikhomirov. She retired from the Bolshoi in 1935 although continued to tour extensively in Russia. One of the first ballerinas to be awarded the Artist of the USSR (1925).
Bio by: Medora
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