Elizaveta Gerdt facts for kids
Elizaveta Pavlovna Gerdt (born January 29, 1891 – died November 6, 1975) was a very famous Russian dancer and teacher. Her long career helped connect the older, traditional Russian ballet style with the newer Soviet style. She was a key figure in the world of classical dance.
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Early Life and Training
Elizaveta Gerdt was the daughter of Pavel Gerdt, who was also a celebrated dancer. Growing up, she learned from the best. She studied ballet at the Imperial Ballet School. This was a very important school for dancers in Russia.
One of her main teachers was Mikhail Fokine, a famous choreographer. During her time at the school, her main dance partner was Vaslav Nijinsky. He was another incredibly talented dancer. Elizaveta later married Samuil Adrianov, who was also a popular dancer. She looked up to other great ballerinas like Pierina Legnani and Mathilde Kschessinska. She wanted to dance as beautifully as they did.
A Career in Dance
Elizaveta Gerdt became a top dancer. She performed for 20 years on stage. After the Russian Revolution, many dancers left Russia. But Elizaveta Gerdt and Olga Spessivtseva were two of the few world-class dancers who chose to stay. They remained in their home country.
Becoming a Teacher
In 1928, Elizaveta decided to stop performing. She wanted to focus all her energy on teaching. She became a highly respected ballet teacher.
Teaching in Leningrad
First, she taught advanced classes for female dancers. This was at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre. She also taught young girls at her old school, the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. She taught there from 1927 to 1934.
Moving to Moscow
Later, Elizaveta Gerdt moved from Leningrad to Moscow. In Moscow, she continued her teaching career. She taught advanced classes for female dancers at the famous Bolshoi Theatre. She coached many of the top ballerinas of the Bolshoi Ballet. She also worked at the Moscow Ballet School for many years, from 1935 to 1942 and again from 1945 to 1960.
Famous Students
Elizaveta Gerdt taught many students who became very famous. Some of her students in Leningrad included Alla Shelest. In Moscow, she taught dancers like Irina Tikhomirnova, Violetta Bovt, Mira Redina, Raisa Struchkova, and Ekaterina Maksimova.
She even continued to work with some of her students after they became professional dancers. For example, she coached Sulamith Messerer. Later, she also coached Sulamith's niece, the legendary ballerina Maya Plisetskaya. Elizaveta Gerdt's teaching helped shape generations of Russian ballet dancers.
