Gerdt, Elizaveta (1891–1975)

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Gerdt, Elizaveta (1891–1975)

Russian ballet dancer and teacher. Name variations: Yelisaveta Gerdt. Born April 29, 1891, in St. Petersburg, Russia; died Nov 5, 1975, in Moscow, Russia; dau. of Pavel Gerdt (1844–1917, ballet dancer, mime and teacher).

Trained by father in St. Petersburg and at school of Imperial Ballet; joined Maryinsky Ballet (1908) where she danced numerous principal roles, including The Plum Fairy, Odette/Odile, and Raymonda, always to great acclaim; began concentrating mainly on teaching (as of 1928) and taught in Leningrad (until 1935); taught at the Bolshoi Ballet where students included Ekaterina Maximova, Raissa Struchkova, and Maya Plisetskaya.

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Gerdt, Elizaveta (1891–1975)

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