Nora Kiss, birth name Eguine Eleonora Adamiantz, (1908–1993) was a Russian-born French ballerina and dance instructor. Together with her mother and her aunt, the dancer Rousanne Sarkissian, she fled the Russian Revolution and moved to Paris where she trained under Alexander Volinin . From 1938, she taught at the Studio Wacker dance school in Paris. She moved to Rome during World War II but returned to Paris thereafter. For many years, she spent two days a week teaching at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. Recognized as one of the most competent dance instructors associated with the Studio Wacker, her students included Marcia Haydée and Maurice Béjart. [1] [2] [3]
Born in Pyatigorsk, Russia, on 16 June 1908, [4] Eguine Eleonora Adamiantz was the daughter of the actress Tamira Adamiantz née Sarkissian and Choucha Adamiantz, an army officer. Both were of Armenian origin. Together with her mother and her aunt, the dance teacher Rousanne Sarkissian, they escaped the Russian Revolution and settled in Paris around 1918. [3] She was trained principally by Alexander Volinin but also by Carlotta Brianza and Harald Lander. [5]
Kiss started her career dancing with various companies, including the Ballets Russes directed by George Balanchine, visiting him in New York thereafter on several occasions. She is, however, remembered above all for her classes, especially those for stars from the Paris Opera Ballet. Her classes were also attended by other ballet dancers from Paris as well as by some from abroad. [1]
Kiss was associated the French Resistance before World War II. In connection with those she met at social gatherings, she came in contact with US intelligence services. No doubt it was at their suggestion that she spent the war years in Rome where she gave ballet classes in a private studio. [3]
Among her students were Maurice Béjart, Marcia Haydée, Mats Ek, Wilfride Piollet and Jean Guizerix, ballet stars from Japan, Italy and Portugal as well as quite a number from the Ballet of the 20th Century. [6] [3]
Her name came from that of her husband, the Hungarian painter who was actually called Ladislas Kish. [3]
Nora Kiss died in Argenteuil on 3 December 1993, aged 85.
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Ekaterina Sergeyevna Maximova was a Soviet and Russian ballerina of the second part of the 20th century who was internationally recognised. She was a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre for 30 years, a ballet pedagogue, winner of international ballet competitions, Laureate of many prestigious International and Russian awards, a professor in GITIS, Honorary professor at the Moscow State University, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, and an Executive Committee member of the Russian Center of Counseil International De La Danse, UNESCO.
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Vestris may refer to:
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The Seasons' Canon is a contemporary ballet choreographed by Crystal Pite to Max Richter's recomposition of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. The ballet is Pite's first work made for the Paris Opera Ballet, and premiered in 24 September 2016 at the Palais Garnier. Pite won the Prix Benois de la Danse for Best Choreographer.
Claire Motte (1937–1986) was a French ballerina, choreographer and dance teacher. After studying under Carlotta Zambelli at the company's school, she entered the Paris Opera Ballet when she was 14. Rising quickly through the ranks, she was named a danseuse étoile in December 1960. As a result of her outstanding technique, leading choreographers including George Balanchine and Serge Lifar sought to include her in their ballets. She was frequently a partner of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. In parallel, Motte taught dance and in 1977 was appointed professor at the Paris Opera and at the Conservatoire de Paris. Four years after she had left the stage, in 1983 Rudolf Nureyev appointed her ballet master for Swan Lake.
Rousanne Sarkissian, also known as Madame Rousanne, was a dancer and teacher of ballet and neoclassical ballet. A renowned teacher, she trained many dancers and film stars at the Studio Wacker in Paris.
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