Melikova, Genia (c. 1930–2004)

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Melikova, Genia (c. 1930–2004)

French-born ballerina and teacher. Born in France; died Mar 5, 2004, in New York, NY; trained with Lyubov Egorova, Anatole Vilzak and Igor Schwezoff.

A leading ballerina with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas (1954–62), was the 1st Western ballerina to perform with Rudolf Nureyev after his defection in 1961; also performed with London Festival Ballet and Grand Ballet Classique de France and at Radio City Music Hall and on Broadway; a noted ballet teacher, taught at Juilliard for 26 years, then at Randolph-Macon Woman's College (1996–2004).

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