Alexandra Danilova (1903–1997)

Alexandra Danilova was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. She attended the Imperial Ballet School (later the Soviet Ballet School), where she studied with the famous Agrippina Vaganova. She danced with the Soviet ballet until 1924, when she defected with George Balanchine to the west. She then danced lead roles to great acclaim with the Ballets Russes and Monte Carlo Ballets Russes until 1951. Danilova and Frederic Franklin created one of the legendary ballet partnership of the 20th century. She was celebrated for her work ethic and professionalism as well as for her glamor and beauty. She went to New York City to appear on Broadway, and in 1964 began teaching at the School of American Ballet of New York City Ballet. She can be seen briefly in the movie The Turning Point. A crater on Venus was named for her in 1991. She published her autobiography, Choura: The Memoirs of Alexandra Danilova, in 1986.