Prominent Poles
Waclaw Nizynski (Vaslav Nijinsky French transcription of Russian spelling), Russian ballet dancer and choreographer of Polish descent
Born: March 12, 1890 in Kiev, Russia (presently Kyiv, Ukraine)
Died: Died: April 8, 1950 in London, United Kingdom
Early days. He was the son of ethnic Poles, dancers Tomasz Nizynski and Eleonora Bereda. His sister Bronislawa Nizynska became a famous choreographer. Nizynski was christened in Warsaw, and considered himself to be a Pole despite difficulties in properly speaking the language as a result of his childhood in Russia's interior where his parents worked. In a letter to the Polish Opera star Reszke, Nizynski wrote "My mother gave me milk and the Polish language, which is why I am a Pole. (...) I can not speak it well because I was not allowed to speak it". Polish was purportedly also the only language the famed ballet star would ever pray in.. In 1900 Nizynski joined the Imperial Ballet School, where he studied under Cecchetti, Legat, and Gerdt. At 18 he was given a string of leads.
Career. Nizynski was one of the most gifted dancers in history, and he grew to be celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations. He could perform en pointe, a rare skill among male dancers at the time and his ability to perform seemingly gravity-defying leaps was also legendary. In 1910, the company's Prima ballerina assoluta Matylda Krzesinska (French transcription: Kressinska) selected Nizynski to dance in a revival of Petipa's Le Talisman, during which Nizynski created a sensation in the role of the Wind God Vayou. A turning point for Nizynski was his meeting Sergei Diaghilev, a celebrated and highly innovative producer of ballet and opera as well as art exhibitions, who concentrated on promoting Russian visual and musical art abroad, particularly in Paris. Nizynski and Diaghilev became lovers for a time, and Diaghilev was heavily involved in directing and managing Nizynski 's career. In 1909 Diaghilev took a company of Russian opera and ballet stars to Paris featuring Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova. The season of colorful Russian ballets and operas, works mostly new to the West, was a great success. It led Diaghilev to create his famous company Les Ballets Russes with choreographer Fokine and designer Bakst. Nizynski 's unique talent showed in Fokine's pieces such as Le Pavillon d'Armide, Cleopatra and a divertissement La Fète. His expressive execution of a pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty (Tchaikovsky) was a tremendous success; in 1910 he performed in Giselle, and Fokine's ballets Carnaval and Scheherazade. His partnership with Tamara Karsavina, also of the Mariinsky Theatre, was legendary, and they have been called the "most exemplary artists of the time". Then Nizynski went back to the Mariinsky Theatre, but was dismissed for appearing on-stage during a performance as Albrecht in Giselle wearing tights without the modesty trunks obligatory for male dancers in the company. The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna complained that his appearance was obscene, and he was dismissed. He danced lead roles in Fokine's new productions Le Spectre de la Rose (Weber), and Stravinsky's Petrushka, in which his impersonation of a lovelorn puppet was widely hailed. Nizynski took the creative reins and choreographed ballets, which slew boundaries and stirred controversy. His ballets were L'après-midi d'un faune (1912), Jeux (1913), Till Eulenspiegel (1916). In Le Sacre du Printemps, with music by Stravinsky (1913), Nizynski created choreography that exceeded the limits of traditional ballet and propriety. For the first time, his audiences were experiencing the futuristic, new direction of modern dance. The radically angular movements expressed the heart of Stravinsky's radically modern score. Unfortunately, Nijinsky's new trends in dance caused a riotous reaction at the Théâtre de Champs-Élysées when they premiered in Paris. As the title character in L'après-midi d'un faune the final tableau (or scene),he was accused by half of Paris of obscenity, but defended by such artists as Auguste Rodin, Odilon Redon and Marcel Proust. In 1913 the Ballets Russes toured South America. Diaghilev did not make this journey, because of a superstitious fear that he would die on the ocean if he ever sailed. Free from supervision, Nizynski became acquainted with Romola Pulszky, a Hungarian countess. An ardent fan of Nizynski, she took up ballet and used her family connections to get close to him. Finally, on board the ship on tour to South America she succeeded in engaging his affections. They were married in Buenos Aires and had a daughter Kyra. When the company returned to Europe Diaghilev is reported to have flown into a rage, culminating in Nizynski 's dismissal. Nizynski tried in vain to create his own troupe, but a crucial London engagement failed due to administrative problems. During World War I Nizynski was interned in Hungary. Diaghilev succeeded in getting Nizynski out for a North American tour in 1916. During this time, Nizynski choreographed and danced the leading role in Till Eulenspiegel. However, it was around this time in his life that signs of his schizophrenia were becoming apparent to members of the company. Nizynski had a nervous breakdown in 1919, and his career effectively ended. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and taken to Switzerland by his wife, where he was treated unsuccessfully. Nizynski 's Diary was written during the six weeks he spent in Switzerland before being committed to the asylum. Obscure and confused, it is obviously the work of a schizophrenic, but in many ways reflects a loving nature , combining elements of autobiography with appeals for compassion toward the less fortunate, and for vegetarianism and animal rights. He spent the rest of his life in and out of psychiatric hospitals and asylums. Nizynski died in a London clinic and was buried in London until 1953 when his body was moved to Cimetière de Montmartre, Paris, France beside the graves of Vestris, Gautier, and Livry.
Nizynski in plays. Chinchilla (1977) by Robert MacDonald. Nijinsky: God's Mad Clown (1986) by Glenn J. Blumstein. Niżyński (2005) by Waldemar Zawodzinski.
Nizynski in films. Nijinsky (1980);The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky (2001); Riot at the Rite (2005); Nijinsky 1912 (2008); Nijinsky & Neumeier Soulmates in Dance (2009).
This article uses mostly material from the Wikipedia article "Vaslav Nijinsky" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. :
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