Natalia Makarova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natalia Makarova
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Makarova at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors
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| Born |
Natalia Romanovna Makarova
21 November 1940 |
| Other names | Natasha Makarova |
| Occupation | ballet dancer, choreographer |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Edward Karkar
(m. 1976; died 2013) |
Natalia Romanovna Makarova (Russian: Ната́лия Рома́новна Мака́рова, born on November 21, 1940) is a famous Russian prima ballerina and choreographer. A prima ballerina is a lead female dancer in a ballet company. Many people consider her one of the best ballet dancers of her time.
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Becoming a Ballet Star
Natalia Makarova was born in Leningrad, which was then part of the Soviet Union. When she was 12 years old, she tried out for the Leningrad Choreographic School. This school was once called the Imperial Ballet School. Even though most students start at age 9, Natalia was accepted because of her talent.
From 1956 to 1970, Makarova was a main dancer with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad. She became a prima ballerina in the 1960s. On September 4, 1970, while on tour with the Kirov Ballet in London, she decided to stay in the West. This was a big decision at the time.
Soon after, Makarova began dancing with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. She also performed with the Royal Ballet in London.
Dancing New and Classic Roles
When she first came to the West, Makarova wanted to try new types of ballet. She was excited to work with modern choreographers, who create new dance routines. At the same time, she was still best known for classic ballet roles. These included Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and the main role in Giselle.
In 1975, she and her dance partner Mikhail Baryshnikov were featured on a BBC television show called Arena. In 1976, she performed in a live American Ballet Theatre show of Swan Lake. This show was broadcast from Lincoln Center on both PBS and NPR.
Later, when the artistic director of American Ballet Theatre, Lucia Chase, stepped down, both Makarova and Baryshnikov wanted the job. The company chose Baryshnikov, so Makarova moved to the Royal Ballet of London.
Returning Home and Beyond
Makarova continued to shine in many different roles. Her performance in Giselle was especially famous. In 1989, she made an emotional return to her home theater, the Kirov Ballet. She was reunited with her family, old friends, and teachers. A film called Makarova Returns documented this special event. She wrote and presented the film herself.
After her performance at the Kirov, she stopped dancing. She gave her ballet shoes and costumes to the Kirov Museum. Today, Makarova helps other ballet companies stage famous ballets. She has directed productions of Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and Sleeping Beauty around the world. She stopped dancing because of injuries, especially to her knees.
Makarova also won a Tony Award for her performances in the Broadway show On Your Toes. She played Lydia Lopokova in a play called Wooing in Absence.
Natalia's Life Outside Ballet
Natalia Makarova has been married three times. In 1976, she married a businessman named Edward Karkar. They had a son named Andrei. Edward Karkar passed away in 2013.
A dance teacher named Janet Sassoon once said about Makarova: "When I began teaching in San Francisco... I got to work with all these great Russian first dancers... So I got Natalia (Natasha) Makarova, a Prima Ballerina Assoluta. There was only one Prima Ballerina Assoluta up until the time she danced. And here I had her in my hands for five months after the birth of her child!"
Awards and Honors
Natalia Makarova has received many awards for her amazing talent:
- 1965 – Gold Medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition
- 1970 – Anna Pavlova Prize & Critic's Award, Paris
- 1977 – Dance Magazine Award
- 1983 – Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for On Your Toes (Broadway)
- 1983 – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for On Your Toes (Broadway)
- 1984 – Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for On Your Toes, London
- 1985 – London Evening Standard Award for her performance in the ballet Onegin. Princess Diana presented this award to her.
- 1986 – Emmy Award nomination for Ballerina, a four-part TV series that Makarova created, wrote, and narrated.
- 2004 – Artistic Achievement Award from the School of American Ballet
- 2012 – Kennedy Center Honor
- 2018 – Life Achievement Award by the Jury of the Benois de la Danse
Ballet Works
Natalia Makarova performed in many ballets as a guest artist with the American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet. Her roles included:
- La Bayadère
- Coppelia
- La fille mal gardée
- La Sylphide
- Don Quixote
- Nutcracker
- Firebird
- Giselle
- Swan Lake
- Sleeping Beauty
- Manon
- A Month in the Country
- Cinderella
- Dances at a Gathering
- Onegin
Ballets Staged by Makarova
Makarova has also directed and staged many ballets for companies around the world. Some of these include:
- 1974 – Kingdom of the Shades – American Ballet Theatre
- 1980 – La Bayadère – American Ballet Theatre
- 1983 – Paquita – American Ballet Theatre
- 1988 – Swan Lake – London Festival Ballet
- 1989 – La Bayadère – Royal Ballet – Covent Garden – London
- 2000 – Giselle – Royal Swedish Ballet
- 2003 – Sleeping Beauty – Royal Ballet – Covent Garden – London
Documentaries and TV Shows
Natalia Makarova has been featured in many documentaries and television programs:
- 1970 – BBC-TV – Black Swan Pas de Deux with Rudolf Nureyev
- 1976 – Swan Lake with Ivan Nagy – Live from Lincoln Center
- 1977 – Giselle with Mikhail Baryshnikov – Live from Lincoln Center
- 1979 – Assoluta – Natalia Makarova – BBC TV, London
- 1985 – Natasha – Natalia Makarova
- 1986 – Ballerina – a four-part series for BBC TV
- 1989 – Makarova Returns – BBC-TV, London
- 1991 – La Bayadère – Makarova's production for the Royal Ballet
- 1994 – BBC Great Railway Journeys – St. Petersburg to Tashkent – written and presented by Makarova
See also
In Spanish: Natalia Makarova para niños
- List of dancers
- List of Russian ballet dancers
