US Ballet Dancer and Teacher. She studied at the School of American Ballet and with Mikhail Mordkin, making her debut at Jacob's Pillow Festival in 1945. She joined the New York City Ballet (then know as Ballet Society) as a soloist in 1946 and became a principal in 1948. With her sophisticated and sylish technique with sharp intelligence she excelled in a wide repertory, creating roles in over 25 ballets by George Balanchine (whom made her his 5th wife). These included: 'Four Temperaments,' 'Divertimento,' 'Bourree Fantasque,' 'La Valse,' 'Western Symphony' and 'Ivesiana.' She also created roles in Ashton's 'Illuminations' and Robbin's 'Age of Anxiety,' 'Afternoon of a Faun' and 'The Concert.' Sadly her career was cut short when she contracted polio on a tour in Copenhagan which put her in a wheelchair. However she still taught at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and wrote two books, 'Mourka, the Autobiography of a Cat' and 'Ballet Cookbook.'
US Ballet Dancer and Teacher. She studied at the School of American Ballet and with Mikhail Mordkin, making her debut at Jacob's Pillow Festival in 1945. She joined the New York City Ballet (then know as Ballet Society) as a soloist in 1946 and became a principal in 1948. With her sophisticated and sylish technique with sharp intelligence she excelled in a wide repertory, creating roles in over 25 ballets by George Balanchine (whom made her his 5th wife). These included: 'Four Temperaments,' 'Divertimento,' 'Bourree Fantasque,' 'La Valse,' 'Western Symphony' and 'Ivesiana.' She also created roles in Ashton's 'Illuminations' and Robbin's 'Age of Anxiety,' 'Afternoon of a Faun' and 'The Concert.' Sadly her career was cut short when she contracted polio on a tour in Copenhagan which put her in a wheelchair. However she still taught at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and wrote two books, 'Mourka, the Autobiography of a Cat' and 'Ballet Cookbook.'
Bio by: Medora
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