Ballerina. The longtime Prima Ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet, she is remembered as perhaps her generation's greatest dance artist. A Paris native, she evidenced her talent early, entered the Paris Opera Ballet School at 10, at 12 had a hit in "Jeanne's Fan", joined the company at 13, was promoted to principal dancer in 1937, also in 1937 made her silver screen bow in Jean Benoit-Levy's award-winning "The Death of the Swan", appeared on the cover of "Life" in December 1938, and in 1941 was designated Etiole, French ballet's top rank. Supremely skilled in the classics such as "Swan Lake", "Les Sylphides", "The Nutcracker", and her signature piece "Giselle", she also performed works choreographed by Russian Serge Litar, being named Etiole after appearing in his 1941 presentation of "Istar". Yvette worked with Litar all thru the War and remained loyal to him afterwards when he was accused of having been a Nazi collaborator, traveling with him to Monaco and, in 1948, to New York's City Center and earning rave reviews with his 1947 presentation of "Les Mirages". Though she 'retired' in 1956, Yvette kept up a full schedule of guest appearances, often paired with Rudolf Nuryev, while running the Paris Opera Ballet School from 1963 until 1968. She was to give her final performance in 1972, though in the 1980s she occasionally returned as a mime during Nuryev's tenure as director, while also choreographing small works. Yvette penned two autobiographies and was designated Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1964, titles that were upgraded to Officer in 1974 and Commander in 1988. She lived out her days in her native Paris and died of the effects of advanced age.
Ballerina. The longtime Prima Ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet, she is remembered as perhaps her generation's greatest dance artist. A Paris native, she evidenced her talent early, entered the Paris Opera Ballet School at 10, at 12 had a hit in "Jeanne's Fan", joined the company at 13, was promoted to principal dancer in 1937, also in 1937 made her silver screen bow in Jean Benoit-Levy's award-winning "The Death of the Swan", appeared on the cover of "Life" in December 1938, and in 1941 was designated Etiole, French ballet's top rank. Supremely skilled in the classics such as "Swan Lake", "Les Sylphides", "The Nutcracker", and her signature piece "Giselle", she also performed works choreographed by Russian Serge Litar, being named Etiole after appearing in his 1941 presentation of "Istar". Yvette worked with Litar all thru the War and remained loyal to him afterwards when he was accused of having been a Nazi collaborator, traveling with him to Monaco and, in 1948, to New York's City Center and earning rave reviews with his 1947 presentation of "Les Mirages". Though she 'retired' in 1956, Yvette kept up a full schedule of guest appearances, often paired with Rudolf Nuryev, while running the Paris Opera Ballet School from 1963 until 1968. She was to give her final performance in 1972, though in the 1980s she occasionally returned as a mime during Nuryev's tenure as director, while also choreographing small works. Yvette penned two autobiographies and was designated Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1964, titles that were upgraded to Officer in 1974 and Commander in 1988. She lived out her days in her native Paris and died of the effects of advanced age.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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