Kasatkina, Natalia (1934–)

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Kasatkina, Natalia (1934–)

Soviet ballet dancer and choreographer. Name variations: Natalia Kasatkina. Born July 7, 1934 in USSR; m. Vladimir Vasilyev (choreographer).

Trained with Maria Kazhukova and Sulamith Messerer at Bolshoi Ballet; joined the Bolshoi (1953) and became a well-known character dancer in such roles as Phrygia in Spartacus; with husband, choreographed numerous works for the Kirov, Bolshoi, and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater. Works of choreography include Vanina Vanini (1962), Heroic Poem, or Geologists (1964), Sacre du Printemps (1965), Preludes and Fugues (1968), Gayané (1970), Creation of the World (1971) and Seeing the Light (1974).