Lydia Sokolova
Encyclopedia
Lydia Sokolova was an English
ballerina
. She trained at the Stedman Ballet Academy and learned from such luminaries as Anna Pavlova and Enrico Cecchetti
.
Born in Wanstead
as Hilda Tansley Munnings, the daughter of Frederick Tansley Munnings and the widowed Emma Catherine Gaulton (nee Such), she began her career at the Savoy Theatre
in London in 1910 and then joined the company of Mikhail Mordkin
for a tour of the United States and the Koslov company for a tour of Europe. Hilda Munnings had a half-sister Beatrice Ethel Gaulton (1891-1974) from her mother's first marriage.
She joined Sergei Diaghilev
's Ballets Russes
in 1913 to become the company's first English ballerina. She was the principal character dance
r of the company until it disbanded in 1929. Sokolova's most famous role was that of the Chosen Maiden in Léonide Massine's reworking of The Rite of Spring
(1920). She won approbation for "what is generally agreed to be the longest and most exhausting solo in the history of theatrical dance". Other notable performances include La boutique fantastique (1919), Il tricorno (1919), Les matelots (1925) and Le Bal (1929).
After the Ballets Russes disbanded, Sokolova returned to England to teach, coach, work on choreography and occasionally perform. Her last performance was in 1962 when she danced in the Covent Garden Royal Ballet
performance of Massine's The Good-humoured Ladies.
In 1945, Henry Gibbs dedicated to Sokolova his book Affectionately Yours Fanny: Fanny Kemble
and the Theatre (Jarrolds Publishers, London, 1945); she had helped him trace "authoritative material" (author's note, p. 8).
Sokolova wrote an autobiographical work on her years with the Ballets Russes titled Dancing for Diaghilev (John Murray, London, 1960).
Sokolova had one daughter, Natasha Kremnev (1917-1968), by her first husband Nikolai Kremnev (married 1917). She subsequently married Leon Woizikowski. When she died on 5 February 1974, in Seven Oaks, Kent, England, she was survived by her third husband Ronnie Mahon.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
. She trained at the Stedman Ballet Academy and learned from such luminaries as Anna Pavlova and Enrico Cecchetti
Enrico Cecchetti
Enrico Cecchetti was an Italian ballet dancer, mime, and founder of the Cecchetti method. The son of two dancers from Civitanova Marche, he was born in the costuming room of the Teatro Tordinona in Rome. After an illustrious career as a dancer in Europe, he went to dance for the Imperial Ballet in...
.
Born in Wanstead
Wanstead
Wanstead is a suburban area in the London Borough of Redbridge, North-East London. The main road going through Wanstead is the A12. The name is from the Anglo-Saxon words wænn and stede, meaning "settlement on a small hill"....
as Hilda Tansley Munnings, the daughter of Frederick Tansley Munnings and the widowed Emma Catherine Gaulton (nee Such), she began her career at the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
in London in 1910 and then joined the company of Mikhail Mordkin
Mikhail Mordkin
Mikhail Mordkin graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet School in 1899, and in the same year was appointed ballet master.He joined Diaghilev's ballet in 1909 as a leading dancer. After the first season he remained in Paris to dance with Pavlova...
for a tour of the United States and the Koslov company for a tour of Europe. Hilda Munnings had a half-sister Beatrice Ethel Gaulton (1891-1974) from her mother's first marriage.
She joined Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Diaghilev
Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev , usually referred to outside of Russia as Serge, was a Russian art critic, patron, ballet impresario and founder of the Ballets Russes, from which many famous dancers and choreographers would arise.-Early life and career:...
's Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
in 1913 to become the company's first English ballerina. She was the principal character dance
Character dance
Character Dance is a specific subdivision of Classical Dance. It is the stylised representation of a traditional folk or national dance,mostly from a European country, and uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theatre....
r of the company until it disbanded in 1929. Sokolova's most famous role was that of the Chosen Maiden in Léonide Massine's reworking of The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
(1920). She won approbation for "what is generally agreed to be the longest and most exhausting solo in the history of theatrical dance". Other notable performances include La boutique fantastique (1919), Il tricorno (1919), Les matelots (1925) and Le Bal (1929).
After the Ballets Russes disbanded, Sokolova returned to England to teach, coach, work on choreography and occasionally perform. Her last performance was in 1962 when she danced in the Covent Garden Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet, London
The Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
performance of Massine's The Good-humoured Ladies.
In 1945, Henry Gibbs dedicated to Sokolova his book Affectionately Yours Fanny: Fanny Kemble
Fanny Kemble
Frances Anne Kemble , was a famous British actress and author in the early and mid nineteenth century.-Youth and acting career:...
and the Theatre (Jarrolds Publishers, London, 1945); she had helped him trace "authoritative material" (author's note, p. 8).
Sokolova wrote an autobiographical work on her years with the Ballets Russes titled Dancing for Diaghilev (John Murray, London, 1960).
Sokolova had one daughter, Natasha Kremnev (1917-1968), by her first husband Nikolai Kremnev (married 1917). She subsequently married Leon Woizikowski. When she died on 5 February 1974, in Seven Oaks, Kent, England, she was survived by her third husband Ronnie Mahon.