NATALIA DUDINSKAYA - Biography

(1912 - 2003)
Mariinsky Ballet

BIOGRAPHY

Natalia Dudinskaya was born in Kharkov 1912. After early studies with her mother Natalia Tagliori she came to the Leningrad Choreographic School in 1923. She graduated in 1931 and was one of Vaganova's favourite pupils and disciples. She danced her graduation performance, Le Corsaire pas de deux, with Konstantin Sergeyev, who was later to become both her partner and husband. She had impeccable technique, purity of line, outstanding elevation and also a feeling for romantic style. She danced the classical repertory as well as the new ballets of the period. Dudinskaya created many roles like the title role in Laurencia, the title role in Gayané, Parasha in Bronze Horseman, title role in Cinderella (Sergeyev version), Sari in Path of Thunder, and Suimbike in Shurale. From 1951 she was an important teacher/repetiteur of the Vaganova School and the Kirov Ballet.

Awards:
People's Artist of the USSR 1957.