Balashova, Alexandra

Alexandra Balashova Photos

Alexandra Balashova Biography

Notable: 1887 – 1979; Bolshoi Ballet 

Alexandra Balashova was born in Moscow in 1887. She graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet School in 1905. She was a beautiful and dramatically expressive dancer. Made her debut at 19 as Tsar-Maiden in Humpbacked Horse and danced all the ballerina roles like Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Medora (Le Corsaire), Kitri (Don Quixote), Swanilda (Coppelia), Raymonda (Raymonda), Nikia (La Bayadere) and Odette-Odile (Swan Lake). She excelled in demi-caractere roles, often performed with Mikhail Mordkin as partner.

She left Russia in 1921 and her mansion at Prechistenka 20 became home of the Isadora Duncan School. Danced in France until she retired in 1931. She was a teacher for many years.