Riabouchinska, Tatiana (1917–2000)

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Riabouchinska, Tatiana (1917–2000)

Russian ballerina. Name variations: Riabouchinskaia; Riabouchinskaya; Riabuchinskaya. Born in Petrograd, Russia, May 23, 1917; died Aug 24, 2000, in Los Angeles, California; father was a banker to Tsar Nicholas II; studied dance with Olga Preobrazhenska and Mathilda Kshesinskaia; m. David Lichine (choreographer, dancer and teacher), 1943; children: Tania Lichine Crawford.

A member of the "baby ballerina" triumvirate, debuted at 15 with Nikita Balieff's Chauve-Souris revue in Paris; danced with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (1932–41), creating Frivolity in Les Présages, the Daughter in Le Beau Danube, the Child in Jeux d'Enfants, Florentine Beauty in Paganini, Junior Girl in Graduation Ball, and the title roles in Coq d'Or and Cinderella; was best known for performances in Les Sylphides and Le Spectre de la Rose; provided the model for the dancing hippopotamus in Disney's classic Fantasia; taught dance in Beverly Hills (1950–2000).

See also Women in World History.

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