December 27, ] β February 21, was a Russian ballet dancer of Polish origin, and an innovative choreographer. She came of age in a family of traveling, professional dancers. Her own career began in Saint Petersburg. Soon she joined Ballets Russes which ventured to success in Paris. She met war-time difficulties in Petrograd and revolutionary turbulence in Kiev. In France again, public acclaim for her works came quickly, cresting in the s.
She then enjoyed continuing successes in Europe and the Americas. Nijinska played a pioneering role in the broad movement that diverged from 19th-century classical ballet. Her introduction of modern forms, steps, and motion, and a minimalist narrative, prepared the way of future works. Following serious home training, she entered the state ballet school in the Russian capital at the age of nine. In she graduated as an 'Artist of the Imperial Theatres'. An early breakthrough came in Paris in when she became a member of Diaghilev 's Ballets Russes.
For her dance solo Nijinska created the role of Papillon in Carnaval , a ballet written and designed by Michel Fokine. Similarly, she aided him in his creation of the ballet The Rite of Spring. While performing in theaters, she worked independently to design and stage her first choreographies. Nijinska started a ballet school on progressive lines in Kiev. She published her writing on the art of movement.
Rejoining the Ballets Russes, Diaghilev appointed her the choreographer of the influential ballet company based in France. Nijinska thrived, creating several popular, cutting-edge ballets to contemporary music. Starting in , with a variety of companies and venues she designed and mounted ballets in Europe and the Americas. Due to war in she relocated from Paris to Los Angeles.
Nijinska continued working in choreography and as an artistic director. She taught at her studio. Her Early Memoirs , translated into English, was published posthumously. Bronislava Nijinska was the third child of the Polish dancers Tomasz [Foma] Nijinsky [ 7 ] and Eleonora Nijinska maiden name Bereda , who were then traveling performers in provincial Russia.
