Sulamith Messerer

Sulamith Mikhailovna Messerer ({{lang-ru|???????? ?????????? ????????}}, August 27, 1908 - June 3, 2004) was a Russian ballerina and choreographer who laid foundations for the classical ballet in Japan.

Related Topics:
August 27 - 1908 - June 3 - 2004 - Russia - Ballerina - Choreographer - Classical ballet - Japan

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Sulamith studied in the Moscow Ballet School under Vasily Tikhomirov and Elisabeth Gerdt and danced in the Bolshoi Theatre from 1926 until 1950. In 1933 she and her brother Asaf Messerer became the first Soviet dancers to tour Western Europe. She also practised swimming all her life and held the Soviet swimming record for the 100-metres crawl between 1927 and 1930.

Related Topics:
Moscow Ballet School - Vasily Tikhomirov - Elisabeth Gerdt - Bolshoi Theatre - 1926 - 1950 - 1933 - Asaf Messerer - Western Europe - Crawl - 1927 - 1930

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Upon repression of her sister Rachel Plisetskaya, Sulamith legally adopted Rachel's daughter Maya Plisetskaya, whom she coached into one of the greatest ballerinas ever. From 1950 until 1980 she was also active as a choreographer and teacher in the Bolshoi. Since 1961, she spent much time in Tokyo, where she mastered Japanese language and was instrumental in establishing the Tokyo Ballet.

Related Topics:
Maya Plisetskaya - Ballerina - 1950 - 1980 - Choreographer - 1961 - Tokyo - Japanese language - Tokyo Ballet

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In 1980, at the age of 72, she defected to Great Britain, where she continued to work as a much sought-after coach. Her many honours included the Stalin Prize (1946), the Order of the Sacred Treasures (1996), and the Order of British Empire (2000).

Related Topics:
1980 - Great Britain - Stalin Prize - Order of the Sacred Treasures - Order of British Empire

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