1. Nathalie "Natasha" Krassovska was a Russian born prima ballerina and teacher of classical ballet most noted for her work with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
18 Facts About Nathalie Krassovska
1. 2.
Nathalie Krassovska's grandmother was a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet; her mother Lydia Krassovska was a dancer with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
3.
Young Nathalie Krassovska began her ballet studies with her grandmother, but her formal training took place in Europe.
4.
Nathalie Krassovska joined the Ballet Russe de Paris in 1935 and Rene Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1936.
5.
Nathalie Krassovska was acclaimed for her lyrical style, especially in performances of the Romantic ballets.
6.
In 1949, Nathalie Krassovska first danced the title role in Giselle, one of the most famous Romantic ballets.
7.
Nathalie Krassovska learned tap dancing for her character in The New Yorker, Leonide Massine's 1940 ballet based on cartoons from the popular magazine.
8.
When Markova returned to the company, both she and Nathalie Krassovska had the rank and status of prima ballerina, but Markova received top billing.
9.
Nathalie Krassovska stayed with Festival Ballet under contract through 1955, and then as guest artist through 1960.
10.
Nathalie Krassovska continued to perform the standard 19th century repertory.
11.
Nathalie Krassovska danced in Great Britain under both her stage name, Nathalie Krassovska, and her birth name Nathalie Leslie.
12.
Nathalie Krassovska opened a dance school at her home and founded a student company, Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse.
13.
Nathalie Krassovska was invited frequently as a guest teacher and coach throughout the Southeastern US She danced in local productions of The Nutcracker into her 80s and produced her last concert, Tribute to Ballet Russe, at Southern Methodist University in 1997.
14.
In 1941 and 1942, while a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Nathalie Krassovska appeared in two movies choreographed by Massine, Spanish Fiesta and The Gay Parisian.
15.
Nathalie Krassovska was interviewed and shown in archival footage for the 2005 documentary movie Ballets Russes.
16.
Nathalie Krassovska helped raise $850,000 toward a construction project for the St Seraphim Orthodox Church in Dallas.
17.
Nathalie Krassovska died on February 8,2005, due to complications from surgery.
18.
Nathalie Krassovska is buried in Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.