Avdotia Istomina facts for kids
Avdotia Istomina (1799–1848) was a very famous Russian ballerina in the 1800s. She was known as one of the best dancers of her time in the Imperial Russian Ballet.
Early Life and Training
Avdotia became an orphan when she was young. Luckily, she was accepted into the Imperial Theater School. This school provided a safe place for children to live and learn.
She was a student of Charles Didelot, a well-known ballet master. Avdotia made her first public appearance with the Imperial Russian Ballet in 1815. People immediately loved her dancing.
A Star on Stage
Avdotia Istomina was incredibly popular. Many people admired her greatly. Her dancing was even mentioned in a famous Russian poem called Eugene Onegin. A famous writer, Vladimir Nabokov, said these lines about her dancing were some of the most beautiful in Russian poetry.
She danced almost all the main roles in ballets created by her teacher, Charles Didelot. She was also the first Russian dancer to perform en pointe. This means she danced on the very tips of her toes, which was a new and difficult skill at the time.
Avdotia danced with the Imperial Ballet for twenty years.
Later Life and Retirement
Avdotia Istomina married a young actor, but he sadly died soon after. Later in her life, she married another actor named Pavel Ekunin.
By this time, she was no longer dancing the main roles. Her income was also cut in half. In the 1835-1836 ballet season, she was injured during a performance. She asked for time off to get treatment. However, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia saw her request and ordered her to be dismissed instead.
On January 30, 1836, Avdotia Istomina performed on stage one last time. She danced a small Russian dance.
She died from cholera on June 26, 1848, in St. Petersburg. At the time of her death, many people had forgotten how famous she once was as a ballerina. The words on her tombstone simply said: "Avdotya Ilyinichna Ekunina, a retired actress".
See also
In Spanish: Avdotia Istomina para niños
