Popova, Nina (1922–)

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Popova, Nina (1922–)

Soviet ballet dancer and teacher. Name variations: Nina Popova-Orloff. Born Nina Alekseyevna Popova, Oct 20, 1922, in Novorossisk, USSR; m. Nicholas Orloff (1914–2001), 1940 (div. 1950); children: Alex Orloff.

Grew up in Paris where she performed as a child in Lyubov Egorova's Ballet de la Jeunesse; immigrated to New York (1939), where she joined Original Ballet Russe; performed with numerous NY companies, including Ballet Theater, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and touring company of Alicia Alonso, and was often associated with the works of David Lichine and Leonid Massine; danced on tv's "Your Show of Shows" (1949–54); taught at High School of Performing Arts in New York City (1954–67); was original artistic director and principal teacher of Houston Ballet and Ballet Academy (1966–75).