Tamara Toumanova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tamara Toumanova
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1940s promotional portrait photo
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| Born | 2 March 1919 Tyumen, Russian SFSR
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| Died | 29 May 1996 (aged 77) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Occupation | Ballerina, actress |
| Spouse(s) | Casey Robinson (1944–55; div.) |
Tamara Toumanova (Georgian: თამარა თუმანოვა; born March 2, 1919 – died May 29, 1996) was a famous ballerina and actress. She was known as a "prima ballerina," which means a lead dancer. Tamara was born in Russia, but her family moved to Paris after the Russian Revolution.
She started dancing ballet at a very young age. When she was 10, she performed for the first time at the Paris Opera. Later, she became famous around the world as one of the "Baby Ballerinas." This was a special group of young dancers in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. A famous ballet master named George Balanchine discovered her. He helped her become a star in the United States. Even though she spent most of her life dancing ballet, Tamara also acted in several movies. She became a citizen of the United States in 1943.
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Tamara's Amazing Career as a Ballerina
Tamara Toumanova's mother was Yevgenia Toumanishvili. Her family had roots in Georgia and Armenia. Tamara's father was Dmitri Toumanov. After her mother's first marriage ended, Tamara and her mother used the last name Khassidovitch for many years.
When Tamara moved to Paris, she took piano lessons. She also studied ballet with Olga Preobrajenska. Tamara called Olga her "first and only permanent teacher."
When Tamara was six years old, the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova invited her to perform. This was at a special concert in 1925. Tamara danced a polka that her teacher, Preobrajenska, created. At age 10, Tamara made her big debut at the Paris Opera. She was a child star in the ballet L'Éventail de Jeanne.
In 1931, when Tamara was 12, George Balanchine saw her dancing. He asked her to join the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Two other young dancers, Irina Baronova (12) and Tatiana Riabouchinska (14), also joined. These three girls became very popular. A writer called them the "Baby Ballerinas."
Tamara was seen as a very talented young dancer. People called her "The Black Pearl of the Russian Ballet." This was because she had beautiful black hair, dark brown eyes, and pale skin. Many thought she was the most glamorous of the "Baby Ballerinas." Her mother was always with her, helping her with everything.
Balanchine created special roles for Tamara in his ballets. These included the "Young Girl" in Cotillon. She also starred in his ballets Concurrence and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Another famous choreographer, Léonide Massine, also worked closely with Tamara. He created many ballets where she had important parts. For example, she played the Top in his ballet Jeux d'Enfants.
In 1936, Tamara was performing in Chicago. A young man named Burr Tillstrom came to see her. They became good friends. Later, Burr showed her a puppet he had made. Tamara was surprised and called it "Kukla" (which means "puppet" in Russian). Burr Tillstrom later created a famous children's TV show called Kukla, Fran and Ollie.
Key Moments in Tamara's Ballet Career
- 1925: At age 6, she performed for the first time in public. This was at a gala concert by Anna Pavlova in Paris.
- 1929: She got her first main role at the Paris Opera Ballet. She was a guest star in the ballet L'Even-tail de Jeanne.
- 1931: She joined the Original Ballet Russe at the invitation of George Balanchine.
- 1932: She created main roles in Balanchine's ballets like Cotillon and La Concurrence. She also danced in Petrushka and Les Sylphides.
- 1933: She joined Les Ballets 1933 and created roles in Balanchine's Mozartiana. She then rejoined the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo.
- 1934: She performed as the Mexican Girl in Massine's Union Pacific. She also danced Odette in Swan Lake Act II and the main role in Fokine's Firebird.
- 1935: She performed in Massine's Jardin public and Le Bal. She also added Aurora in Le Mariage d'Aurore and the Girl in Fokine's La Spectre de la rose to her dances.
- 1947: She danced in the Second Movement of Balanchine's Palais de cristal (now Symphony in C) at the Paris Opera.
Tamara Toumanova in Movies
Tamara Toumanova acted in six Hollywood movies between 1944 and 1970. She always played a dancer in these films.
Her first movie was Days of Glory in 1944. She played a Russian dancer who was saved from German invaders. In this movie, she acted alongside Gregory Peck, who was also making his first film.
In 1953, she played the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in the movie Tonight We Sing. The next year, 1954, she was in Deep in My Heart. In this film, she played a French dancer named Gaby Deslys. In 1956, she had a dance scene with Gene Kelly in Invitation to the Dance.
Later, in 1966, she played a lead ballerina in Alfred Hitchcock's spy movie Torn Curtain. Her last film role was in 1970. She played a Russian ballerina named Madame Petrova in Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.
Tamara's Personal Life
Some information suggests that Tamara Toumanova was born in Siberia. Her mother, Princess Eugenia Toumanova, was trying to find her husband at the time.
Tamara had a mixed background. She was part Georgian, Armenian, and Polish. She often spoke about her Georgian heritage. Her mother, Evgeniya Toumanova, was from Tbilisi, Georgia. Tamara's parents were very religious. Tamara, her mother, and her grandmother were Orthodox Christians.
Tamara's parents were separated during the Russian Revolution. It took 18 months for her family to be together again. They escaped from Russia by going through Vladivostok.
In 1944, Tamara married Casey Robinson. He was the producer and writer for her first movie, Days of Glory. They did not have any children. The couple divorced in 1955.
Tamara's Passing
Tamara Toumanova passed away in Santa Monica, California, on May 29, 1996. She was 77 years old. Before she died, she gave some of her ballet costumes to a museum in Russia. Her funeral was held at a Russian Orthodox church in Los Angeles. She was buried next to her mother in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
A British choreographer named John Gregory said that Tamara Toumanova was a "remarkable artist." He said she was a "great personality who never stopped acting." He also said it was "impossible to think of Russian ballet without her."
See also
- List of Russian ballet dancers
