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Hilda Butsova (née Boot)

(1897-1976), Dancer

Sitter in 2 portraits
Butsova was born Hilda Boot in Nottingham. She studied at Stedman's Dancing Academy and appeared as première danseuse with fellow students in two ballets, Les Poupées and Les Saisons d'Amour at the Court Theatre in 1912. She received further training from Volinine and Cecchetti and was selected to appear with the Imperial Russian Ballet company during its 1911 season at Covent Garden. The following year she joined Anna Pavlova's company and became her understudy. Eventually she was appointed ballerina and she remained with the company until her marriage in 1926.

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Hilda Butsova (née Boot)

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 13 September 1923
NPG x26642

Hilda Butsova (née Boot)

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 13 September 1923
NPG x26643

Groups

Ballerinas and dancers

Places

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Ericka Mills Landolfi

28 October 2018, 12:08

Hilda Butsova was my grandmother . As a young child she lived with her parents & grandmother . They ran a sweet shop in Nottingham City . She left on her own as a young teenager to dance in London .

Adam Mills

31 July 2018, 04:00

She married Harry Mills in New York City in 1926. She had only one child with Harry, a son, Alan. After retiring as an active ballet dancer, she spent some time as a ballet instructor. She died in 1976 from heart disease.

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Hilda Butsova (née Boot)

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