 | Vaslav Fomich NIJINSKY 1890 — 1950Вацлав Фомич НІЖИНСЬКИЙ • Вацлав Фомич НИЖИНСКИЙVaslav Fomich Nijinsky (In Polish - Wacław Niżyński) was born in Kyiv to a Polish dancer’s family of Eleonora Bereda and Tomasz Niżyński in 1890. A well known Russian ballet dancer and choreographer. Nijinsky was one of the most gifted male dancers in history, and he became celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations. He could perform en pointe, a rare skill among male dancers at the time and his ability to perform seemingly gravity-defying leaps was also legendary. In 1900 he joined the Imperial Ballet School, where he studied under Enrico Cecchetti, Nicholas Legat, and Pavel Gerdt. At 18 years old he had leading roles in the Mariinsky Theatre. He performed under Sergei Diaghilev at Les Ballets Russes. Nijinsky died in London in 1950. |
