Apinée, Irena (c. 1930–)

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Apinée, Irena (c. 1930–)

Latvian ballet dancer. Name variations: Irena Apinee. Born c. 1930, in Riga, Latvia.

Immigrated to Canada (early 1950s); began dancing with National Ballet of Canada (1954) in such classics as The Nutcracker and Les Sylphides; joined Ludmilla Chiriaeff and her newly founded company Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (c. 1956), the 1st professional ballet company in Quebec; danced Balanchine pieces, including Themes and Variations and Coppélia, with Jury Gotchalk for a season at American Ballet Theater in New York City; appeared with Gotchalk at Radio City Music Hall and on numerous occasions thereafter.