Tamara Karsavina
(1885-1978), Ballet dancerSitter in 35 portraits
The Russian-born ballet dancer Karsavina trained at the Imperial Ballet School and began her career at the Maryinsky Theatre, St Petersburg. She was an original member of the Diaghilev company and created many roles including those in Mikhail Fokine's ballets Les Sylphides (1909), Firebird (1910) and Petrushka (1911). She also appeared at the London Coliseum, where she danced divertissements, and continued to perform with the Maryinsky until 1918. She undertook recital tours across Europe in the 1920s and was Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dancing, 1920-55. She wrote several books, including the autobiographical Theatre Street (1930).
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