Karsavina, Tamara (1885–1978)

Russian dancer, prima ballerina with the Ballet Russes company of Sergei Diaghilev in Paris (1909–30). Later, after settling in England, she was a leading light in promoting the popularity of ballet.

A pupil of the Imperial School of Ballet, St Petersburg, Karsavina made her debut at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1902 and was promoted to prima ballerina in 1907. She created leading roles in many of the notable productions staged by the Ballet Russes, including Les Sylphides, Carnaval, Petrouchka, Spectre de la rose, and L'Oiseau de feu. In England, she danced with the Ballet Rambert, and coached Margot Fonteyn at the Sadler's Wells Ballet. Her memoirs were published under the title Theatre Street in 1930.