Krassovska, Nathalie (1918–2005)
Krassovska, Nathalie (1918–2005)
Soviet ballet dancer. Name variations: Nathalie Leslie. Born Nathalie Leslie, June 1, 1918, in Petrograd, Russia; died Feb 8, 2005, in Dallas, Texas; father was Scottish; trained by Russian mother, Lydia Krassovska Egorov (ballerina); granddau. of Eugenie Krassovska (ballerina); became US citizen (1964).
Performed with Ballets Russe de Paris; danced in Réné Blum's Ballet Russe (1936–37), where she appeared in numerous works by Fokine, including Les Sylphides, Scheherezade, Spectre de la Rose, Carnaval, and L'Epreuve d'Amour; appeared as principal dancer on US tour with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (1938), starring in works by Massine, including Vienna-1814 (1938), Le Tricorne, and Le Beau Danube, and such classical works as Swan Lake and Giselle, for which she was best known; was a ballerina with London Festival (1950–55); after retiring from performance career, formed own company, Ballet Jeunesse, in Dallas (1963) and taught and created numerous works for that company.