Tamara toumanova biography

Tamara Toumanova (Georgian: თამარა თუმანოვა; 2 March 1919 – 29 May 1996) was a.
Tamara Toumanova was a Russian-born Georgian-American prima ballerina and actress.
Tamara Toumanova was born on a train while her mother was trying to flee Russia in search of her husband.

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Tamara Toumanova (1919-1996)

Tamara Toumanova was born on a train while her mother was trying to flee Russia in search of her husband. They had become separated during the Revolution. Tamara was 18 months old before her parents were reunited. The family escaped from Russia to Shanghai, where they lived for a year, then moved to Cairo. After spending time in various refugees' camps the family eventually settled in Paris.

Tamara's very domineering mother arranged for her to take piano lessons. Her grandfather had been a great admirer of Olga Preobrajenska when she was the ballerina at the Maryinsky Theatre, and therefore it was decided that Tamara should also study with this famous ballerina who had opened a school in Paris. Tamara said, "Preobrajenska was my first and only permanent teacher. I think always of Mme, Preobrajenska not only as my beloved, never-to-be-forgotten teacher, but my immortal friend." Toumanova made her debut at the Paris Opera at the age of nine in L'Eventail de Jeanne.

George Balanchine saw her in ballet class and engaged her for the Ballets Russes de Mon

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Toumanova, Tamara

Tamara Toumanova Photos

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Tamara Toumanova Biography

Notable: 1919 – 1997; Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

Tamara Toumanova (Tumanishvili) was born in 1919 by Georgian parents (on a railway train between Siberia and Shanghai escaping Russia!). She studied in Paris with Olga Preobrajenska. She was engaged for De Basil’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo by George Balanchine in 1932 and was one of the three famous “baby ballerinas”. She was a guest artist with the American Ballet Theatre 1944-45, the Paris Opéra Ballet 1947 and 1950, De Cuevas Company 1949, La Scala 1951 and 1952, London Festival Ballet 1952 and 1954. She danced all the classical roles.

*The photos are strictly for private viewing purposes only and are copyright by their respective owners. The photos have been generously contributed to Ballerina Gallery over the years. If you would like to contribute photos that you own the rights to, please contact us.

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Spotlight: Tamara Toumanova

This week's Spotlight Saturday continues the Baby Ballerina feature with Tamara Toumanova.

Tamara Toumanova was born in Tyumen, Siberia on March 2 1919. Her mother was Princess Yevgenia Dmitrievna Toumanova, a half-Armenian (on her father, Prince Dmitri Toumanov's side). She was born while her mother was fleeing Georgia in search of her husband; they had become separated after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Tamara was almost two years old before the family reunited, fleeing to Paris via Vladivostok.

In 'La Sylphide'

In Paris, Tamara took piano lessons and was taught dance by former prima ballerina of the Imperial Ballet, Olga Preobrajenska. She later described Preobrajenska as an 'immortal friend'. At only 6 years old, Tamara was chosen by Anna Pavlova to appear in one of the ballerina's gala concerts in 1925, in which she performed a polka choreographed by Preobrajenska. At 10, she made her debut at the Paris Opera Ballet in L'Eventail de Jeanne.

Tamara Toumanova and Olga