TATIANA VECHESLOVA . Biography

(1910 - 1991)
Mariinsky Ballet

BIOGRAPHY

Tatiana Vecheslova was born in St Petersburg in 1910. She studied at the Leningrad Choreographic School (pupil of Marie Romanova and Agrippina Vaganova). She was classmate of Galina Ulanova and graduated in 1928. She was a strong dramatic dancer. Vecheslova was the first Soviet ballerina to tour abroad when she and Chabukiani went to USA in 1934. She created many roles including Manizhe (Chabukiani's Heart of the Hills 1938), Paskuala (Chabukiani's Laurencia 1939), Florine (Zakharov's Lost Illusions 1936) and title role (Bourmeister's Tatiana 1947). She also danced Esmeralda (Vaganova's Esmeralda 1935), Zarema (Fountain of Bakhchisarai), Tao Hoa (The Red Poppy), title role (Cinderella), Nuné (Gayané), title role (Giselle), Odette-Odile (Swan Lake), Kitri (Don Quixote), etc.

Vecheslova retired from the stage in 1953. She directed the Vaganova School 1952-54. She was teacher-repetiteur with the Kirov Ballet 1955-71. She wrote several books about ballet, including I am a Ballerina 1964 and Of the Things I Value Most 1984.

Awards:
Honoured Artist of the RFFSR 1957