The fokine ballet companys production of the nutcracker ballet each december hearkens back to the original 1892 petersburg production. As a young child, when someone mentioned the nutcracker i immediately thought of the ballet and tchaikovskys music. The fokine ballet company production each december is based on director donna. Her mother, alexandra fedorova, was a prima ballerina at the marinsky theater in st. They have daily classes in toe, stretch, pirhouette, jazz ballet, character ballet, and all levels of adult classes. Irine fokine obituary ridgewood, nj the recordherald news. Included in these notes was a plan for the reform of ballet. Jul 18, 2009 fokine school of ballet offers a wide variety of training in dance. Fokine was born in saint petersburg to a prosperous merchant and at the age of 9 was accepted into the saint petersburg imperial ballet school vaganova ballet academy. Leon fokine graduated from the imperial school of ballet in st.
She was invited to join the alabama ballets apprenticeship program during its inaugural year and was promoted to the company two years later. I received a link to this obituary from a north new jersey paper. The russianborn miss fokine, niece of michel fokine, one of the most influential. With a cast of sixty students and a handful of guest artists, the ballet is a major cultural event in northern new jersey. And for years i performed in the new jersey production directed by irine fokine niece of choreographer michel fokine. Nutcracker irine fokine ballet specializes in charitable organization. Dec 07, 1997 since 1957, the irine fokine ballet company has presented the nutcracker each year in new jersey, first in ridgewood, where she has her dance studio, then in paramus and now in the auditorium. The fokine ballet companys production of the nutcracker ballet each december. Kathleen arcieri grew up in ridgewood, nj where she began ballet lessons at the age of five. Nov 08, 20 the choreographer had subsequently become guest choreographer at the royal swedish ballet in 19, and it was from dancers fokine formed there that les ballets suedois originated. As i always say, if the mona lisa had a little makeup on she would probably look better, but then she wouldnt be mona lisa, says irine fokine, niece of michel fokine. Aug 30, 2010 at 88, irine fokine is in darn good shape. Fokine irine school of ballet in ridgewood, nj 07450. He was accepted into the imperial ballet school at the age of 9 and made his performing debut that same year at the maryinsky theatre in the ballet the talisman under the direction of marius petipa.
Fokine is the niece of choreographer michel fokine. At the age of 8, she began studying at the irine fokine ballet school with irine fokine, jeanette tannanhoffman, and later with eugene petrov. Nutcracker irine fokine ballet ridgewood, nj business. Fokine is the niece of choreographer michel fokine, and her mother, alexandra fedorova, was. In the late 1960s, he founded a ballet school in washington, dc with his wife, gloria fokine. Irine fokine ballet company school of ballet alumni home. And for years i performed in the new jersey production directed by irine fokine niece of choreographer michel. Since 1957, the irine fokine ballet company has presented the nutcracker each year in new jersey, first in ridgewood, where she has her dance studio, then in paramus and now in the auditorium. Like mistletoe and eggnog, attending a performance of the nutcracker is a holiday tradition. Aug 24, 2010 fedorova met and later married fokine s brother, alexander. Fokine directing the rehearsals of the ballet aphrodite in 1919.
Irine fokine 19222010 for 60 years, irine fokine, niece of ballets russes choreographer michel fokine, taught challenging, nononsense classes at her studio in ridgewood, nj. Nutcracker irine fokine ballet is located at the address 33 chestnut st in ridgewood, new jersey 07450. Petersburg in 1892 has overseen performances of the. The first choreographer of the ballets russes, michel fokine 18801942 liberated dance from the constraints of convention and breathed fresh life into it, revealing a new sensibility. My first experience with the nutcracker was when i saw new york city ballet s performance at the age of three. Dec 01, 2002 irine fokine, niece of the great choreographer michel fokine, produces her fortyfifth nutcracker this december. The fokine ballet company production is based on director donna deckers grandmother alexandra fedorova fokines restaging of the original production for the ballet russe in 1940, and on her. Sorota began her ballet training under eugene petrov at the irine fokine school of ballet, and continued her training with him at petrov ballet school until her graduation in june 2015. Last august, irine fokine, niece of michel fokine, closed the doors of the irine fokine school of ballet after 60 years and 52 annual nutcrackers.
Ballets irine fokine announces her retirement ridgewood. Fokine irine school of ballet at 33 chestnut street, ridgewood, nj 07450. Michel mikhail fokine 1880 1942 was born mikhail mikhailovich fokine on 26 april in st. Fokine article about fokine by the free dictionary. So on saturday, a bunch of us gathered at the irine fokine school of ballet in ridgewood, nj, the place that had been like a second home to us. A russian ballet legend leads young students through leaps and plies. At the age of 17, kathleen was chosen to dance the coveted sugar plum fairy role. They can be contacted via phone at 201 6529653 for pricing, hours and directions. That same year, he made his performing debut in the talisman under the direction of marius petipa. Jenny hasselquist 18941978 mikhail fokine soloist and.
Miss fokine was born on september 20, 1922 in vologda, russia. In 1905 he composed the solo the dying swan for the russian ballerina anna pavlova. Nutcracker irine fokine ballet in ridgewood, nj 07450. Irine folkine ballet obituaries and memorials ballet. The fokine ballet company production is based on director donna deckers grandmother alexandra fedorova fokine s restaging of the original production for the ballet russe in. She was invited to join the alabama ballet s apprenticeship program during its inaugural year and was promoted to the company two years later.
Michael fokine immigrated to the united states in 1919, irine s brother, leon, came in 1929 and. Dec 07, 2010 on december 5th, irine fokine died at the age of 88. Dancers prepare for 32nd year of the nutcracker local. This last december would have been her first without the nutcracker. Miss decker is a descendant of the famed fokine ballet family, a name well known to ballet lovers. His ballet training began at 14 at the irine fokine school of ballet, under the direction of irine fokine, eugene petrov and jeanette hoffman.
Fokine irine school of ballet 33 chestnut st ridgewood, nj. Apr 19, 2020 michel fokine, original name mikhail mikhaylovich fokine, born april 23 april 11, old style, 1880, st. At the age of 8, she began studying at the irine fokine ballet school with irine. County to present performances of the nutcracker 52 years ago, and the ballet became a holiday tradition for many area families for a half a. The fbc version is based on deckers grandmother alexandra fedorova fokines restaging of the original production for the ballet russe in 1940, and on her mother irine fokines 1957 version. Michel fokine russian dancer and choreographer britannica. She danced professionally with the irine fokine ballet and has toured the east coast performing in productions of the nutcracker, sleeping beauty, romeo and juliet and don quixote.
Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. There she performed leading roles in garrett ammons the nutcracker, michel fokine s prince igor, dawn fays the garden, and prophesies and reversed memories during her senior year of high school, long moved to pittsburgh, pennsylvania to. Fokine ballet company, 140 main st, oneonta, ny 2020. Dec 01, 2007 the irine fokine school of ballet in ridgewood mounts the ballet with its original ivanovpetipa choreography. The fokine ballet company will present the nutcracker december 6. Irine fokine, who kept three generations of north jersey dance students on their toes, died sunday, three months after shuttering her iconic ridgewood studio, irine fokine school of ballet. Decker school of ballet just another wordpress site. In 1898, on his 18th birthday, he debuted on the stage of the imperial mariinsky theatre in paquita, with the. Miss fokine s finale barry hillss fokine, second in the jersey stakes at royal ascot, also figures among the entries, but will probably miss the race. Backers grandmother, irine fokine, had a studio in ridgewood, new jersey and has been teaching for 59 years.
Fokine s ideas for reform in ballet began as early as 1904 when he submitted a scenario for a ballet based on longus daphnis and chloe with notes to the director of the imperial theatre. In the late 1950s, she formed the irine fokine ballet company and had produced the nutcracker for over 50 years. She was the founder of irine fokine school of ballet in ridgewood, new. Fokine was born into the ballet world in vologda, russia. In the summer of 2003, he attended kaatsbaans extreme ballet program, studying with martine van hamel, bonnie mathis and christian holder. Russian born irine fokine is a member of an illustrious ballet family niece of michael fokine, daughter of alexandra fedorova. This years nutcracker is also a celebration of the one and only madame fokine, dance teacher extraordinaire, descendant of a storied russian ballet family.
But shes not up to teaching three classes a day, or running the business she ran for 60 years. The glittery tradition of the nutcracker is in its 31st year in oneonta. With him was born the ballet that would be called neoclassical, and which broke with academic routine. She was a member of the irine fokine ballet company, performing leading roles such as black swan, grand pas. She was a member of the irine fokine ballet company, performing leading roles such as black swan, grand pas classique, waltz of the flowers soloist, and snow queen, as well as performing with new jersey. Maurice sendaks nutcracker illustrations dancing perfectly. Russian born irine fokine is a member of an illustrious ballet family niece of michael fokine, daughter of. For maps and directions to nutcracker irine fokine ballet view the map to the right. Dec 18, 2016 for 50 years irine fokine whose mother, prima ballerina alexandra federova, danced in the first performance of the nutcracker in st. Miss fokine founded the irine fokine school of ballet in ridgewood in march 1950, and operated the studio until september 2010.
Her schools annual nutcracker was produced for the last fiftytwo. Her production informed the nutcracker of her daughter, irine fokine niece of michel fokine, whose nutcracker ran annually in new jersey from 1957 to 2009. Irine fokine school of ballet ridgewood, new jersey. Fokine irine school of ballet 33 chestnut st ridgewood nj 07450. In the 20 and 2015 youth america grand prix philadelphia semifinals, sorota placed third in the senior classical division. Michel fokine, original name mikhail mikhaylovich fokine, born april 23 april 11, old style, 1880, st. As a prized student at irine fokines school of ballet, kathleen performed in annual recitals as well as in tchaikovskys classic, the nutcracker, for over twelve years. Dec 23, 2007 this years nutcracker is also a celebration of the one and only madame fokine, dance teacher extraordinaire, descendant of a storied russian ballet family. At age 2, she fled with her mother, the prima ballerina alexandra fedorova, to latvia. Kat wildish, slawomir wozniak, nutcracker, sugar plum fairy, fokine ballet. Fokine ballet companys 2015 production of the nutcracker ballet, featuring a new christmas tree with five circuits of lighting control. Her students went on to dance in top ballet companies, on broadway and at radio city music hall where her brother, leon fokine, had also danced. The fokine family was featured in a fourpage article in the december 2002 publication of dance magazine. Nov 19, 2000 strand theater ballet company of the performing arts ensemble.
She was the founder of irine fokine school of ballet in ridgewood, new jersey, where for over sixty years countless students and i trained in a rigorous, disciplined environment. Kat wildish, slawomir wozniak, nutcracker, sugar plum. Fokine irine, of ridgewood, new jersey, died sunday, december 5, 2010 in charlottesville, virginia. My first experience with the nutcracker was when i saw new york city ballets performance at the age of three. Madame fokine put on her first nutcracker in ridgewood in 1957. Irine fokine ballet company school of ballet alumni. Kaileah long trained at colorado conservatory of dance in broomfield, colorado under the direction of julia wilkinson manley. The fokine ballet company production each december is based on director donna deckers grandmother alexandra fedorova. Blueblood ballet teacher irine fokine ends an era dance. Last summer fokine closed down the irine fokine school of ballet.
The nutcracker finder where to catch a performance. Fedorova met and later married fokine s brother, alexander. Herr drosselmeyer, played by andrew mark wentink, makes his grand entrance during the first act of the nutcracker, performed at the goodrich theater at suny oneonta last night. Strand theater ballet company of the performing arts ensemble. The taskmaster behind the nutcracker irine fokine, daughter of prima ballerina alexandra federova who danced as a child in the original st. Suny oneonta to host fokine ballets nutcracker local.
However, her nutcracker lives on through productions at daughter donna deckers school in oneonta, ny, and granddaughter rena backers studio in phoenix, az. Since 1957, the irine fokine ballet company has presented the nutcracker each year in new jersey, first in ridgewood, where she has her. Irine fokine, niece of the great choreographer michel fokine, produces her fortyfifth nutcracker this december. Amy cole ahmed is a former professional ballerina who first trained in new jersey at the irine fokine school of ballet and then with leonid kozlov, formerly of the new york city ballet.
1354 3 1375 580 1251 796 1195 30 626 566 725 741 1094 1486 1111 1489 1300 21 805 1539 390 619 1371 225 1271 449 793 1258 1375 721 222 1155 1312 157 543 1400