Ulanova Galina Sergeevna (biography is presented below) is a famous Russian ballerina and teacher. People's Artist of the USSR. Repeated winner of many state awards. She received the following international awards: the Oscar Parcelli Prize, the Anna Pavlova Prize and the Commander's Order for achievements in the field of literature and art. She was an honorary member of the American Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Childhood
Galina Ulanova was born in St. Petersburg in 1909. Both of the girl's parents were ballet dancers at the Mariinsky Theatre. Father - Sergei Nikolaevich - worked as a ballet director, and mother - Maria Fedorovna - taught choreography. In the difficult post-revolutionary years, Galina's parents performed in cinemas before screenings of paintings. There was no one to leave the girl at home with, so I had to take her with me. Through the whole city, in snow or rain, they walked with Galina in their arms to unheated halls. And then, shivering from the cold, Maria Feodorovna took off her felt boots, put them onpointe shoes and went out to the audience with a smile.
At the age of 9, my mother assigned the girl to a choreographic school. Before entering, Maria Fedorovna went to church with her daughter and prayed that Galina would be accepted and that she would study well. But little Ulanova had no desire to become a ballerina at all. Galina did not want to study and constantly asked her mother to take her back. Young Ulanova loved to wear a sailor suit, swim and go fishing with her father. And in general, the girl dreamed of surf the sea.
Once in the boarding school, Galina Ulanova withdrew into herself. The first classes were associated with hard work, fainting pupils and cold rooms. Back in 1922, Galina, together with Slava Zakharov, danced the mazurka in Paquita. Then no one even imagined that the girl would become a great ballerina, and the boy would become a famous choreographer.
First performances
In 1928, Galina Ulanova (biography, personal life of the artist is known to all her fans) graduated from the choreographic school. According to the results of the graduation performance, the girl was accepted into the Leningrad Ballet and Opera Theater (later the Kirov Theater). The ballerina's debut performance took place at the Mariinsky Theatre. The talented artist immediately attracted the attention of critics. Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake" - this was the first part that Galina Ulanova danced at the age of 19. The height, weight of the ballerina at that time were 165 centimeters and 48 kilograms, respectively.
The Fountain of Bakhchisaray
This performance, staged by Rostislav Zakharov, made a lot of noise intheatrical life of the Northern capital. Moscow also became interested in the premiere. Galina Ulanova, whose personal life was very rich, played one of the leading roles. Spectators and critics were delighted. It was decided to organize a tour. By the way, this was initiated by Klimenty Voroshilov. The People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR really liked the performance. In 1935, the Fountain of Bakhchisarai, along with Esmeralda and Swan Lake, was brought to Moscow.
Meet Stalin
For the first time Iosif Vissarionovich saw Ulanova in Esmeralda. The ballerina played the role of Diana. In the course of the performance, Galina aimed her bow at the box where Stalin was sitting. The ballerina's heart sank: the NKVD could easily accuse the artist of attempting to assassinate the leader. But everything worked out - Iosif Vissarionovich invited the entire troupe to a reception in the Kremlin.
After the banquet, 25-year-old Galina was asked to go to the cinema hall and was seated next to the leader. Later, journalists asked Ulanova if she was scared. The ballerina said that there was no fear, only a feeling of embarrassment due to Stalin's high status.
Iosif Vissarionovich praised the ballerina as follows: "Galina is a classic." Four times the artist was awarded the Stalin Prize. But, despite the received titles and titles, Ulanova did not want to have any relationship with the authorities. Although it was the Kremlin that turned her into an ideological icon and a symbol of the Soviet ballet.
First novel
In 1940, the premiere of the play "Romeo and Juliet" took place. It is clear that Ulyanova played the main character. And the role of Romeowent to Konstantin Sergeev. Over time, their playing on stage grew into love. According to others, a very deep feeling arose between Galina and Konstantin. Sergeev always called Ulanov as you.
It all ended with the transfer of the ballerina to the capital. Their duet broke up, and Konstantin himself left the performance and did not dance Romeo with anyone else.
Work in Moscow
After the war, the life of Galina Ulanova changed. The management made it clear to her that it was necessary to move to Moscow. And the ballerina was transferred practically by order. This was a big blow for Galina, because she was separated not only from her beloved theater and beloved city, but also from her beloved person.
There were no relatives in the capital, so the dancer lived in hotels. The management and colleagues of the ballerina treated her kindly. Galina, in turn, also tried not to disappoint them. Ulanov was not deprived of awards and titles, but they tried to make her a columned noblewoman.
Although if Galina Sergeevna was against it, then any question was filmed by itself. Once the secretary of the party committee of the Bolshoi Theater asked her to speak and thank the country's leadership on behalf of the artists. Ulanova said she was into ballet, not politics. She was no longer bothered with such requests. But any ceremonial performance or "court" concert could not do without the participation of a ballerina.
Private life
Probably, this is the only topic that Galina Ulanova did not really like to talk about. The husbands of the artist in most cases were respectable people inage. According to rumors, she entered her first marriage at the age of 17. Galina's chosen one was the bald accompanist Isaac Melikovsky. But soon they parted. Ulanova's second marriage was also short-lived. The artist never had children. Already at an age, Galina Sergeevna admitted that her parents forbade her to give birth. The mother made it clear to the girl that children and stage life are simply incompatible.
Marriage with Zavadsky
Ulanova met Yuri Zavadsky on vacation in Barvikha. He was 16 years older than Galina. The girl sunk deep into his heart. Soon Zavadsky came to St. Petersburg to win the hand of a famous ballerina. Yuri succeeded, although later the couple lived in different apartments and rarely met. After the war, Zavadsky and Ulanova divorced, but remained close friends. Yuri regularly visited his ex-wife for tea. And at the director's funeral, the dancer sent a wreath with the inscription: "Zavadsky from Ulanova."
The brightest romance
It happened to actor and director Ivan Bersenev. The lovers spent two wonderful years together. Ivan Nikolayevich lived with his previous wife, Sofya Giatsintova, for thirty-five years. He loved his wife very much and was very upset by the breakup, but he could not help himself. First, Ivan and Galina met at the Metropol, and then moved to Ulanova's apartment on Novoslobodskaya. After the death of Bersenev in 1951, the ballerina moved to a high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya. At the funeral of Ivan Nikolaevich, two women cried at the coffin - dancer GalinaUlanova and legal wife Sofia Giatsintova.
Meeting with Ryndin
In the late 50s, the ballerina met Vadim Ryndin. He worked as an artist at the Bolshoi Theatre. Like her previous companions, Ryndin was very fond of Galina. But the artist had a weakness that he could not overcome - an addiction to alcohol. As a result, Ulanova simply kicked him out.
A ballerina was once asked if she had any regrets in her personal life. After thinking, Galina Sergeevna replied that she would like to have a family, a house, learn how to cook well. But even after the end of her career, she failed to do so.
Farewell performance
In 1960, Galina Ulanova (biography, personal life of the artist are presented in this article) gave a farewell performance at the Bolshoi Theater. The actress danced "Chopiniana". An era passed between her debut production and her farewell performance.
Galina Sergeevna left the stage, but did not leave the theater. For more than thirty years she worked as a teacher-repetiteur, bringing up a whole galaxy of such talented students as Marika Sabirova, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Nina Semizorova, Nina Timofeeva, Ekaterina Maksimova, Vladimir Vasilyev and others.
Opening of the monument
In 1990, a grand opening of a monument in honor of Galina Ulanova took place in Stockholm. It was the only monument to a Russian man in the West erected during his lifetime.
When journalists asked Bengdt Hegger (President of the UNESCO Dance Commission) why the choice fell on Ulanova, he called the ballerina the highestheight in art. Hegger also spoke about her unique ability to convey simple human feelings to people through ballet - truth, goodness and beauty.
During the opening of the monument, Galina Ulanova herself modestly stood aside and did not even look at her bronze statue. And when a camera was pointed at the ballerina, she stepped back behind someone or hid her face in a fur collar, stubbornly repeating that the monument was erected not to her, but to ballet.
About the West and Nureyev
In an interview, Galina Ulanova, whose height was mentioned above, spoke about the West as follows: "They have everything very sensibly and rationally arranged." But when asked if she would like to live there, the ballerina answered in the negative.
Everyone knew that the famous artist Rudolf Nureyev was forced to leave his homeland and live in Europe. Every time Galina Sergeevna came to Paris, he expressed a desire to meet her. She never condemned his non-return publicly, but delicately declined meetings. Nuriev always sent flowers to Ulanova's hotel room. Rudolph himself was never admitted to her.
Meet Agafonova
In the late 70s, Galina Ulanova, whose biography is a role model for all ballerinas, met journalist Tatyana Agafonova. She became the artist's personal secretary and settled in her apartment. Tatyana was 20 years younger than the great ballerina. Their cohabitation caused bewilderment among everyone, and also gave rise to a lot of gossip and gossip. Gradually oldacquaintances and friends became rare guests in the Ulanov house.
Tatyana completely saved Galina Sergeevna from everyday worries. After all, Ulanova had no idea how to call a plumber if a tap leaked. She had no idea where the savings bank was and didn't know how to turn on the TV or the washing machine. In 1993, Agafonova became seriously ill. Galina Sergeevna learned to cook, massage and began to take care of Tatyana. Ulanova even had to give up long trips, but she did not quit her job and went to the theater every day. Agafonova died in 1994.
Loneliness
Galina Ulanova was very upset by Tatiana's death and lost a lot. The artist spent almost a year in the hospital, and then returned to her empty apartment. Many people offered to help her, but Galina Sergeevna thanked her and politely refused. She herself was engaged in cleaning, went to the store, cooked. And the dishes were the simplest - sandwiches and stewed vegetables. Ulanova was very happy when friends came to visit and brought her cottage cheese or fruit. Galina Sergeevna did not understand much of what was happening in the world around her. She stopped reading newspapers and watching TV. The artist again got used to loneliness. At the Golden Mask award in 1995, the ballerina was surprisingly sociable - she spoke about the meaning of art and talked about her own life. But no one heard the artist. What Ulanova really could not refuse was sincerity. After reading a poem by Bella Akhmadullina dedicated to Maya Plisetskaya, she said to the poetess with an ironic smile: “I re-read the textfour times, but could not understand anything. It’s a pity that no one will write about me like that.”
Recent years
A few years before her death, Galina Ulanova (see photo above) became more willing to meet with journalists and give interviews. She talked on the phone for a long time, trying to break her many years of silence. Once a journalist reproached the ballerina for her unwillingness to talk about her personal life. And Galina Sergeevna replied that she simply did not understand the craving of modern people for the intimate.
At the end of 1997, the ballerina made her last trip to St. Petersburg. Ulanova walked around the city, and then went to the cemetery to visit the graves of her relatives. Galina Sergeevna wanted to be buried next to her parents. But the wish of the artist was not destined to come true.
She passed away in 1998 at the age of 88. The great ballerina was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. Shortly before her death, the artist destroyed all papers relating to her personal life. In 2004, Galina Ulanova's house-museum was opened on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, which anyone can visit. It is located in an apartment in a high-rise building where the artist moved in 1986. The exposition presents works of arts and crafts and fine arts, as well as letters, photographs, posters and other memorial items. The museum's library contains 2400 books. The situation in the apartment is completely preserved.
