| One of the greatest of Russian ballet dancers, especially associated with partner Vaslav Nijinsky in the works created by impresario Serge Diaghilev, both in the Imperial Maryinsky Theatre and later in his own company the Ballets Russes.
Tamara Platonovna Karsavina (the stress is on the SA) was born on 10th March 1885 in St Petersburg, daughter of a dancer, and joined the St Petersburg ballet school in 1902. Her talent was such that she became a soloist and star immediately. She starred as the doll in Petrouchka, 1911, and also in The Firebird, Rite of Spring, and Les Sylphides. She was renowned for her expressiveness.
In 1919, having married a British diplomat, she left newly Bolshevist Russia and settled in England, where she guest starred with Marie Rambert's ballet, and became a leading coach of English dancers such as Margot Fonteyn in the classic Russian style. She died in London on 26th May 1978. | 
