Karalli, Vera (1889–1972)

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Karalli, Vera (1889–1972)

Soviet ballet dancer and actress. Name variations: Vera Alexeyevna Karalli. Born Aug 8 (some sources cite July 27), 1889, in Moscow, Russia; died Nov 16, 1972, in Baden, Austria.

Trained with Bolshoi Ballet before joining company (1906) where she was featured in Mikhail Fokine's Le Pavillion d'Armide, among others; performed with Diaghilev Ballet Russe (1909) and with companies of Anna Pavlova and Mikhail Mordkin on tour (1910s); became one of Russia's 1st film stars, appearing in numerous dance-related silents, including The Dying Swan (1917); served as ballet master of State Opera in Bucharest (c. 1930–37).