Dancer, Actress. She was a Russian dancer and actress as well as a patron of the performing arts and a director. Born Ida Lvovna Rubinstein, into a wealthy Ukrainian Jewish family, she relocated to St. Petersburg after her parents' death. She was able to study music, dance and acting with private teachers such as Michel Fokine, who choreographed "The Dance of the Seven Veils" for her, which she performed in her own staging of "Salome" in 1908. Although this was a private performance, her dance created a huge scandal as she removed most of her veils, which caused the censor's intervention. In 1909 she joined Diaghilev's Ballet Russes where she created the title role in Fokine's "Cleopatra" 1909 although the performance was based on her exotic beauty not on her dance technique. She also created Zobeide in his "Scheheradaze" in 1910. She left Diaghilev in 1911 to form her own company, for which she commissioned several lavish productions including "Le Martyre of Saint-Sebastien." After World War I, she appeared in various plays and danced Staat's "Istar" at the Paris Opera. From 1928 to 1929, she directed her own ballet company with Nijinska as choreographer in Paris. It was revived between 1931 to 1934 and during its run, she created several leading roles such as Nijinska's "Bolero" and "Le Baiser de la Fee," both in 1928; in Massine's "David" in 1928; and "Amphion" in 1931 among others. As one of the few female ballet directors of the era, her commissioning record was impressive, including librettos by Valery and Gide and designs by Benois as well as original scores for most of her repertoire. She had some fine stable dancers including Ashton. In 1935, she disbanded the company, leaving several commissions at the Paris Opera and retiring to the French Riviera. Her final stage appearances were in "Jeanne d'Atc au bucher" by Claudel-Honegger in Basle, 1938 and in 1939 in Paris. Although dismissed as a dilettante because of her wealth, she did possess extraordinary stage charisma and was one of the most powerful theatre women in her day.
Dancer, Actress. She was a Russian dancer and actress as well as a patron of the performing arts and a director. Born Ida Lvovna Rubinstein, into a wealthy Ukrainian Jewish family, she relocated to St. Petersburg after her parents' death. She was able to study music, dance and acting with private teachers such as Michel Fokine, who choreographed "The Dance of the Seven Veils" for her, which she performed in her own staging of "Salome" in 1908. Although this was a private performance, her dance created a huge scandal as she removed most of her veils, which caused the censor's intervention. In 1909 she joined Diaghilev's Ballet Russes where she created the title role in Fokine's "Cleopatra" 1909 although the performance was based on her exotic beauty not on her dance technique. She also created Zobeide in his "Scheheradaze" in 1910. She left Diaghilev in 1911 to form her own company, for which she commissioned several lavish productions including "Le Martyre of Saint-Sebastien." After World War I, she appeared in various plays and danced Staat's "Istar" at the Paris Opera. From 1928 to 1929, she directed her own ballet company with Nijinska as choreographer in Paris. It was revived between 1931 to 1934 and during its run, she created several leading roles such as Nijinska's "Bolero" and "Le Baiser de la Fee," both in 1928; in Massine's "David" in 1928; and "Amphion" in 1931 among others. As one of the few female ballet directors of the era, her commissioning record was impressive, including librettos by Valery and Gide and designs by Benois as well as original scores for most of her repertoire. She had some fine stable dancers including Ashton. In 1935, she disbanded the company, leaving several commissions at the Paris Opera and retiring to the French Riviera. Her final stage appearances were in "Jeanne d'Atc au bucher" by Claudel-Honegger in Basle, 1938 and in 1939 in Paris. Although dismissed as a dilettante because of her wealth, she did possess extraordinary stage charisma and was one of the most powerful theatre women in her day.
Bio by: Medora
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