Russian Ballet History

Happy birthday!

Lifar was born in Kiev and studied under Bronislava Nijinska. He was accepted into Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1923.  Lifar was very handsome and known for his enormous ego. In his personal, life Lifar was as dynamic as he was controversial.  Lifar was the last of the Ballets Russes' Premier Danseurs. 

Two of Lifar's greatest achievements as a dancer in Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes were in Balanchine's Apollo and The Prodigal Son.  After Diaghilev's death in 1929, Lifar became Premier Danseur of the Paris Opera Ballet. Lifar held the position of Director at the Paris Opera Ballet for 20 years, creating the majority of the choreography and dancing most of the leading roles himself.