Dance Masters & Ballerinas

(Nijinski, Nijinska)

(1891-1950) age 59

There are many theories about his mental condition.  Which jump caused his cookies to scatter?  Did he float in & out of an imaginary world?  Did he do bizarre things to see how others would react?  Were his catatonic states caused by brain meltdown, or did he just want to see how long he could do nothing?  We will always speculate & never really know what made Nijinsky dance, or what made Nijinski Nijinsky.  Clearly he was a great dancer, extremely creative.  As for his mental status, take a close look at the picture he drew.   A joy filled sunrise it ain’t.

1891: born Warsaw.

His mother was a dancer, father matre de ballet at Imperial Theatre School of Warsaw

1896: age 5,

1st appearance in a ballet

1898: age 7,

joined Imperial Theatre School, Warsaw,

1900: age 9,

accepted to Imperial Theatre School, St. Petersburg

1907: age 16,

debut in Maryinsky Theatre

1910: age 19,

resigned from Maryinsky

1912  age 21, choreographic debut

1913  age 22,

toured South America with Diaghilev Co; married company member, Romola, in Buenos Aires; left Diaghilev’s co.

1914: age 23,

formed his own troupe in London

 

WWI broke out when Nijinski was in Austria-Hungary.  He was sent to prison camp for 2 years as a result of being Russian.

 

1916: age 25,

released from prison; returned to Diaghilev who was touring NY

Went to South America & split with Diaghilev

Went back to Europe

 

1932-33: age 41, institutionalized in Switzerland?

1938: age 47,

shock treatment

1945: age 54

danced spontaneously, with Russian troupes who were occupying his town.

1950: age 59

Died in England,

(kidney disorder)

(1890 - 1972) age 82

(Nijinski, NijinskaBronislava was a dancer, choreographer, teacher and sister of Vaslav Nijinsky. She danced with Imperial Ballet. She then joined the Ballets Russes as dancer and choreographer. Her students included the prima ballerina Maria Tallchief. She arrived in USA in 1938 and died in Los Angeles California in 1972.