Lichine (Lichtenstein), David

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LICHINE (Lichtenstein), DAVID

LICHINE (Lichtenstein ), DAVID (1910–1972), Russian-born dancer and choreographer who carried on the ballet tradition of Diaghilev and Massine. He studied ballet with Lubov Egorova in Paris after emigrating from Russia and he first won attention when engaged by Bronislava Nijinska in 1928 to appear with Ida *Rubinstein's company. He later danced with Pavlova. From 1932 to 1940 he was a leading dancer and choreographer with Colonel de Basil's Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. World War ii brought Lichine and his wife, the ballerina Tatiana Riabouchinska, to the United States. In 1952 they settled in Los Angeles, where they established their own school and company. Lichine was at various times guest choreographer for American Ballet Theater, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Festival Ballet of London, and other companies. His ballets include Protée (1938), The Prodigal Son (1939), Graduation Ball (1940), and Helen of Troy (1942).

bibliography:

F. Gadan-Pamard and R. Maillard (eds.), Dictionary of Modern Ballet (1959).

[Marcia B. Siegel]

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