De Swirska, Tamara (c. 1890–?)
De Swirska, Tamara (c. 1890–?)
Russian interpretive dancer and pianist. Name variations: Tamara Swirskaya or Svirskaya. Born c. 1890 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Was a concert pianist before she appeared on stage in dance recitals; performed successfully on Keith circuit and in series of films for Imperial Film Corporation; appeared at London Coliseum in England in Egyptian Ballet (1911), The Temple Dance of Dionysius (1914), and Tanagara Suite, among others; was considered one of the most important—and perhaps earliest—links between opera and classical ballet, and contributed to the establishment of a ballet company in Chicago. Works of choreography include Let Matin (1910), Danse Coquette (1911), Faust Ballet (1911), Danses Slaves (1911), Olympia Ballet (1914), Cléopâtre (1916) and The Poisoned Flower (1918).