Yekaterina Geltzer facts for kids

Yekaterina Vasilyevna Geltzer (born November 2, 1876, died December 12, 1962) was a very famous ballerina. She was known as a prima ballerina, which means she was the main female dancer. Yekaterina danced at the Bolshoi Ballet theatre in Russia for many years. She performed there from 1898 until 1935. Her father, Vasily Geltzer, was also a well-known Russian dancer.

Yekaterina worked with important people in the ballet world. These included Marius Petipa, Sergei Diaghilev, and Reinhold Glière. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, she played a big part. She helped to keep the art of ballet alive in Russia during a difficult time.

A Star of Russian Ballet

Yekaterina Geltzer was the first ballet dancer to receive a special award. This award was called the People's Artist of the RSFSR. She received it in 1925. It showed how important she was to Russian art.

Her Most Famous Role

One of her most famous performances after the revolution was in a ballet called The Red Poppy. She played a Chinese dancer in this show. Her husband, Vasily Tikhomirov, helped create this ballet. It was first performed to celebrate her 50th birthday.

Awards and Recognition

Yekaterina Geltzer received many important awards for her work. In 1943, she was given the Stalin Prize. She also received the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. These awards showed how much her country valued her talent.

Dancing Through the Years

Even after Yekaterina and Vasily Tikhomirov divorced, they kept dancing together. They remained partners on stage. There is a famous story about Yekaterina backstage at the Bolshoi Theatre. She was over 60 years old at the time. She asked her colleagues to help her get en pointe. This means standing on the very tips of her toes. She said, "after that I know what to do." This shows her dedication and love for ballet, even as she got older.

Images for kids

• 

  Yekaterina Geltzer in Moscow, 1890

• 

  Yekaterina Geltzer in 1910

• 

  Yekaterina Geltzer in Moscow, 1920

• 

  Geltzer as Medora in Alexander Gorsky's production of Le Corsaire, 1910

• 

  Geltzer with Tikhomirov in Nikolai Legat's The Little Scarlet Flower. Moscow, 1911

See also

In Spanish: Yekaterina Geltzer para niños