Alexandra Danilova Collection, 1920-2000
Span: 1920-1990s
Bulk: 1933-1951
English
collection
30 ft.
46 boxes
Dancer and teacher, Alexandra Danilova (Aleksandra Dionisievna Danilova; born 20 November 1903 in Peterhof, Russia, died 13 July 1997 in New York City) was one of the most famous and well-respected ballerinas of the twentieth century. Known for her commanding stage presence, Danilova entered the ballet section of the Imperial Theater School, Saint Petersburg, graduating in 1920. During the early 1920s she danced for the State Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet and took part in the avant-garde dance movement by dancing in several of George Balanchine's and Fedor Lupukhov's experimental works. While in Paris, Danilova auditioned for Serge Diaghilev and, in 1924, joined Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and remained with the company until 1929. She then danced with the Monte Carlo Opera Ballet; Colonel Wassily de Basil's Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo, and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. In the late 1950s, Danilova began to stage ballets and, in 1964, she joined the faculty of the School of American Ballet, where she taught until her retirement in 1989.
Photographs (2,200); correspondence (800); writings by Danilova; programs (79); clippings; awards and honors; subject files; writings by others (17); printed material; artwork; audiovisual materials.
Alexandra Danilova Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress
Danilova
A collection of materials that detail the career and accomplishments of one of the premier ballerinas of the twentieth century.
Researchers wishing to work with special collections are advised to inquire in advance about availability of material since many special collections are stored off-site.
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Dance
Ballet
Women in the Performing Arts
Danilova, Alexandra
School of American Ballet
ML31.D37
Performing Arts Encyclopedia
scdb
Music Division, Library of Congress
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu006004
IHAS
120229
loc.natlib.scdb.200033826