# Mathilde Kschessinska

> Russian ballet dancer and princess

**Wikidata**: [Q239246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q239246)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilde_Kschessinska)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mathilde-kschessinska

## Summary
Mathilde Kschessinska was a Russian ballet dancer and princess, renowned as one of the greatest ballerinas of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was the first Russian ballerina to be awarded the title of prima ballerina assoluta and was closely associated with the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

## Biography
- Born: August 19, 1872 (sources vary: August 31, 1872 or January 1, 1872)
- Nationality: Russian Empire
- Education: Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (formerly Imperial Ballet School)
- Known for: Prima ballerina assoluta, principal dancer at Mariinsky Theatre, mistress of Tsar Nicholas II
- Employer(s): Mariinsky Theatre, Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
- Field(s): Ballet, dance, pedagogy

## Contributions
Mathilde Kschessinska made significant contributions to classical ballet as a performer and later as an educator. As a principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre, she performed leading roles in major ballets including "La Bayadère," "The Sleeping Beauty," and "Swan Lake." After her retirement from performing, she established a ballet school in Paris where she taught and influenced a new generation of dancers. Her technical innovations and dramatic interpretations helped shape the evolution of Russian ballet during the late Imperial period.

## FAQs
**What was Mathilde Kschessinska's relationship to the Russian royal family?**
Kschessinska was the mistress of Tsar Nicholas II before his marriage and later had relationships with two of his cousins, Grand Dukes Sergei Mikhailovich and Andrei Vladimirovich. Through her marriage to Andrei Vladimirovich, she became Princess Romanovskaya-Krasinskaya.

**Where did Mathilde Kschessinska train and perform?**
She trained at the Imperial Ballet School (now Vaganova Academy) in Saint Petersburg and spent her entire performing career at the Mariinsky Theatre, where she became the first Russian ballerina to achieve the rank of prima ballerina assoluta.

**What happened to Mathilde Kschessinska after the Russian Revolution?**
Following the Russian Revolution, she emigrated to France where she established a ballet school in Paris and continued to teach until her death in 1971.

**What is Mathilde Kschessinska's legacy in ballet?**
Kschessinska is remembered as one of the greatest Russian ballerinas of her era, known for her technical brilliance and dramatic artistry. Her influence extended through her teaching career in Paris, where she passed on the traditions of Russian ballet to new generations.

## Why They Matter
Mathilde Kschessinska matters as a pivotal figure in the history of Russian ballet who bridged the Imperial and modern eras of dance. As the first Russian ballerina to achieve the prestigious title of prima ballerina assoluta, she set new standards for technical excellence and dramatic interpretation. Her position within the Imperial court gave her unique influence over the development of ballet during a crucial period, while her later teaching career in Paris helped preserve and transmit Russian ballet traditions during a time of political upheaval. Her life story encapsulates the dramatic transformation of Russian society and culture at the turn of the 20th century.

## Notable For
- First Russian ballerina to be awarded the title prima ballerina assoluta
- Principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre for over two decades
- Mistress of Tsar Nicholas II before his marriage
- Marriage to Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich, becoming Princess Romanovskaya-Krasinskaya
- Establishment of a ballet school in Paris after emigration
- Preservation of Russian ballet traditions during the Soviet era
- Subject of numerous memoirs documenting the Imperial ballet world
- Connection to three members of the Romanov dynasty

## Body
### Early Life and Training
Mathilde Kschessinska was born on August 19, 1872, in Ligovo, near Saint Petersburg, Russia. She came from a Polish family that had been part of the Russian Empire since the partitions of Poland. Her father, Feliks Krzesiński, was a ballet master who taught at the Imperial Ballet School, which gave Mathilde early exposure to the world of dance. She entered the Imperial Ballet School (now the Vaganova Academy) at a young age and trained under the renowned teacher Marius Petipa, who would become a major influence on her career.

### Rise to Stardom at the Mariinsky Theatre
Kschessinska graduated from the Imperial Ballet School in 1890 and immediately joined the Mariinsky Theatre as a coryphée. Her exceptional talent and technical brilliance quickly propelled her through the ranks. By 1895, she had achieved the highest rank of prima ballerina assoluta, becoming the first Russian ballerina to receive this prestigious title. This achievement was particularly significant as it marked the recognition of Russian dancers on par with the previously dominant Italian and French ballerinas.

During her career at the Mariinsky Theatre, which spanned from 1890 to 1917, Kschessinska performed in virtually all the major classical ballets of the repertoire. She was particularly celebrated for her performances in "La Bayadère," "The Sleeping Beauty," "Swan Lake," and "Raymonda." Her interpretation of Nikiya in "La Bayadère" was considered definitive, and she was known for her extraordinary technical facility, particularly in pirouettes and pointe work.

### Royal Connections and Personal Life
Kschessinska's position at the Mariinsky Theatre brought her into close contact with the Imperial family, as the theatre was considered a court institution. She became the mistress of the future Tsar Nicholas II in the early 1890s, before his marriage to Alexandra Feodorovna. This relationship, which lasted several years, gave her significant influence within court circles and the Imperial Theatres.

After Nicholas's marriage, Kschessinska had relationships with two of his cousins: Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich and Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich. Her relationship with Andrei Vladimirovich was particularly significant, as they married in 1921 after the Russian Revolution, when she was 49 and he was 53. Through this marriage, she became Princess Romanovskaya-Krasinskaya, though she continued to be professionally known as Kschessinska.

### Technical Innovations and Artistic Style
Kschessinska was known for her exceptional technical abilities, particularly her mastery of pirouettes. She was credited with performing 32 fouettés in succession, a feat that was considered extraordinary for her time. Her technical innovations included developing new ways of executing turns and developing greater strength and control in pointe work.

Her artistic style was characterized by a combination of technical brilliance and dramatic expressiveness. She was particularly noted for her ability to convey complex emotions through movement, and her interpretations were often praised for their psychological depth. Her performances were known for their combination of precision and passion, setting new standards for ballet performance.

### Teaching Career in Paris
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Kschessinska emigrated to France, where she established a ballet school in Paris. This school became an important center for the preservation and transmission of Russian ballet traditions during a period when many dancers and teachers were scattered across Europe. Her students included several notable dancers who went on to have significant careers in ballet.

Her teaching emphasized the technical foundations she had learned at the Imperial Ballet School, combined with the dramatic expressiveness that had characterized her own performances. She was known as a demanding but inspiring teacher who passed on not just technical skills but also the artistic traditions of the Russian ballet.

### Legacy and Historical Significance
Mathilde Kschessinska's life spanned one of the most turbulent periods in Russian history, from the height of Imperial power through revolution and exile. Her career at the Mariinsky Theatre coincided with what many consider the golden age of Russian ballet, when the art form reached new heights of technical and artistic achievement.

Her memoirs, published in various forms, provide valuable historical documentation of the Imperial ballet world and court life. These accounts, while sometimes controversial, offer unique insights into the cultural and social dynamics of late Imperial Russia.

As a performer, Kschessinska helped establish the preeminence of Russian ballet on the world stage. Her technical innovations and artistic interpretations influenced subsequent generations of dancers and helped shape the development of classical ballet in the 20th century.

Her role as a teacher in Paris ensured that the traditions of Russian ballet were preserved and transmitted during a period of significant upheaval. Many of her students went on to become important figures in the ballet world, helping to maintain the continuity of Russian ballet traditions.

Kschessinska died on December 6, 1971, in Paris at the age of 99, having lived through the entire Soviet period in exile. Her life story encapsulates the dramatic transformations of Russian society and culture at the turn of the 20th century, while her artistic legacy continues to influence ballet to this day.

## References

1. [death certificate](https://archives.paris.fr/arkotheque/visionneuse/visionneuse.php?arko=YTo2OntzOjQ6ImRhdGUiO3M6MTA6IjIwMjQtMTItMjMiO3M6MTA6InR5cGVfZm9uZHMiO3M6MTE6ImFya29fc2VyaWVsIjtzOjQ6InJlZjEiO2k6NDtzOjQ6InJlZjIiO2k6Mjc0NTYzO3M6MTY6InZpc2lvbm5ldXNlX2h0bWwiO2I6MTtzOjIxOiJ2aXNpb25uZXVzZV9odG1sX21vZGUiO3M6NDoicHJvZCI7fQ==#uielem_move=-1106%2C-11&uielem_islocked=0&uielem_zoom=125&uielem_brightness=0&uielem_contrast=0&uielem_isinverted=0&uielem_rotate=F)
2. BnF authorities
3. The Peerage
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. Dictionary of Women Worldwide
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. CiNii Research
8. [Source](https://www.polskipetersburg.pl/hasla/krzesinska-matylda-maria)
9. MAK
10. [Source](http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/results?Maker=Matilda+Feliksovna+Kshesinskaia+%281872-1971%29)
11. Writers of St. Petersburg. XX century
12. Find a Grave
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. [Source](https://facebook.com/groups/709410852896325?view=permalink&id=739403073230436)
15. Sejm-Wielki.pl
16. performing-arts.ch