Geltzer, Ykaterina (1876–1962)

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Geltzer, Ykaterina (1876–1962)

Russian ballet dancer. Name variations: Ekaterina or Yekaterina Geltzer. Born Ykaterina Vasilyevna Geltzer, Nov 14, 1876, in Moscow, Russia; died Dec 12, 1962, in Moscow; dau. of Vasily Geltzer (ballet master of Bolshoi Ballet); m. Vasili Tikhomirov.

Prima ballerina who helped preserve the classical technique and repertory of the Imperial Russian Ballet, 1st trained at the Bolshoi with her father who served as ballet master; danced with the Bolshoi's professional company (from 1894) before moving on to Maryinsky troupe in St. Petersburg where she danced principal roles in both older and newer works, including Petipa's Raymonda and La Bayadère, and the newer Gorsky's The Goldfish (1903) and Salambó (1910), among others; toured with Maryinsky dancers throughout Western Europe and US, appearing with Vasily Tikhomirov at Alhambra Theatre in London (1911) and as Odette/Odile on Mikhail Mordkin's US tour; rejoined the Bolshoi and danced there as principal ballerina until retirement; created one of her most famous roles, that of Tao-Hoa in The Red Poppy (1927).