Ballet dancer. Finland's first prima ballerina assoluta. Danced lead roles for the Finnish National Ballet from 1928 to 1947, starting with the role of Clara in the first performance of The Nutcracker outside Russia, and ending with her signature role of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. In 1935 she left Finland and danced for Rene Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. There she was coached by the groundbreaking choreographer Michel Fokine, and after her return to Finland in 1938 she directed a ballet production with Fokine's choreography and taught classes in his advanced techniques. She also appeared in a few Finnish films, usually in dancing scenes. She was named Best Classical Dancer at Rolf de Mare's international choreography contest in Stockholm in 1945, and awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, the country's highest honor for artists, in 1955.
Ballet dancer. Finland's first prima ballerina assoluta. Danced lead roles for the Finnish National Ballet from 1928 to 1947, starting with the role of Clara in the first performance of The Nutcracker outside Russia, and ending with her signature role of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. In 1935 she left Finland and danced for Rene Blum's Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. There she was coached by the groundbreaking choreographer Michel Fokine, and after her return to Finland in 1938 she directed a ballet production with Fokine's choreography and taught classes in his advanced techniques. She also appeared in a few Finnish films, usually in dancing scenes. She was named Best Classical Dancer at Rolf de Mare's international choreography contest in Stockholm in 1945, and awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland, the country's highest honor for artists, in 1955.
Bio by: Lee C.
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