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  • Published: 7 May 2007
  • ISBN: 9781742282039
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 576
Categories:

Irina

Life, Love and Dance



From a turbulent beginning in Russia to world fame and beyond, this is the vivid, moving story of Irina Baronova's extraordinary life.
Irina was born into a privileged family, whose world was changed forever by the Bolsheviks. They fled Russia to poverty in Bucharest, but Irina's mother was determined that her daughter learn ballet. Her first lessons were taken with the kitchen table as a barre.
Her family struggled to take Irina to Paris, where she made her debut, aged eleven, with the Paris Opera. Spotted by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine, she joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She quickly rose to fame as one the three 'Baby Ballerinas' and toured the world, working with a dazzling array of great names.
Later Irina starred in films, danced with American Ballet Theatre and appeared in plays. But when she met Cecil Tennant, theatrical agent to stars such as Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, Irina had to choose between the limelight and life as a wife and mother . . .

  • Published: 7 May 2007
  • ISBN: 9781742282039
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 576
Categories:

About the author

Irina Baronova

Irina Baronova was born in Russia in 1919, but she and her parents were soon forced to flee to Romania. They moved to Paris to foster Irina's talent for ballet and soon she was part of Colonel de Basil's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She later appeared with American Ballet Theatre, as a guest ballerina with other companies, on Broadway and in films. She gave mime classes and masterclasses for the teacher training course at the Royal Academy of Dance, for which she has also acted as a guest teacher in seminars all over the world.Irina is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Dance, of which she is also a vice president, and president of the Guild of Licentiates. Patron of the Australian Ballet School, she holds the prestigious Nijinsky Medal, and an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the North Carolina School of the Arts. In 1996 she received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from the Royal Academy of Dance for her outstanding services to ballet. She was also awarded the Lucia Chase Fellowship by American Ballet Theatre.Irina has two daughters and a son, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She now lives in the idyllic hinterland of Byron Bay, New South Wales.