Description
Serge Oukrainsky (1886-1972) was a Russian-born dancer, teacher and choreographer. He began his stage career as a mime in
the French Musical Festival at the Theatre de Chatelet in 1911. In 1913, he moved to the United States with partner Anna Pavlova
and the Anna Pavlova Company. He stayed until 1915 when he moved to Chicago where he became leading dancer, choreographer
and director of the Chicago Opera Ballet and established the Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet with Andreas Pavley, which became the
official ballet of the Chicago Grand Opera. In 1927, he became ballet master of the San Francisco Opera Ballet and the Los
Angeles Opera Ballet and staged ballets for symphonic concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as choreographing for several
films. This collection details the life and career of Serge Oukrainsky and includes biographical information, correspondence,
Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet Company financial and artistic records, photographs (some autographed), press clippings, programs,
manuscripts, his autobiography “My Life in Ballet,” sketches, and a great many costumes.
Background
Serge Oukrainsky (1886-1972) was a Russian-born dancer, teacher and choreographer. He began his stage career as a mime in
the French Musical Festival at the Theatre de Chatelet in 1911. In 1913, he moved to the United States with partner Anna Pavlova
and the Anna Pavlova Company. He stayed until 1915 when he moved to Chicago where he became leading dancer, choreographer
and director of the Chicago Opera Ballet and established the Pavley-Oukrainsky Ballet with Andreas Pavley, which became the
official ballet of the Chicago Grand Opera. In 1927, he became ballet master of the San Francisco Opera Ballet and the Los
Angeles Opera Ballet and staged ballets for symphonic concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as choreographing for several
films.