Galina Samsova
Encyclopedia
Galina Samsova is a retired Russian ballerina. She studied at the Kiev Ballet School and in 1956 graduated into the Kiev Ballet where she became a soloist. In 1960 she married the Canadian Alexander Ursuliak and moved to Canada where she joined the National Ballet of Canada
in 1961. She was soon promoted to a principal and made her West European debut in a French production of Cinderella
, for which she won a gold medal in the Paris International Dance Festival.
She joined London Festival Ballet as a Principal in 1964. While there, she formed a partnership with David Adams
, performing in Spring Waters, Corsaire, Swan Lake, Walpurgisnacht and many others. The pair won the Gold Medal at Il Festival De La Opera, Madrid for their performance of Giselle, and Adams was Samsova's partner during her historic audition for the Paris Opera.
Samsova subsequently formed a small company with André Prokovsky
, the New London Ballet, which toured in five continents with a repertory consisting mostly of especially created works.
After the company ended, she followed Prokovsky in Italy where he had accepted the directorship of the Rome Opera House for two years.
In 1978 she danced as a guest with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (now called Birmingham Royal Ballet
), joining the company as a Principal and teacher two years later.
After retiring from the stage, she became the artistic director of Scottish Ballet
and she occasionally came back to Rome to stage Prokovsky's Sleeping Beauty and her own production of Swan Lake.
She has been a mentor to a few young ballerinas in Great Britain: first Italian Viviana Durante
, spotted by Samsova at the Rome ballet school at age 10; and then Spanish Tamara Rojo
, invited by Samsova to join the Scottish Ballet as a guest to make her UK debut at age 20.
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
in 1961. She was soon promoted to a principal and made her West European debut in a French production of Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
, for which she won a gold medal in the Paris International Dance Festival.
She joined London Festival Ballet as a Principal in 1964. While there, she formed a partnership with David Adams
David Adams (dancer)
David Adams, was a Canadian ballet dancer and a founding member of the National Ballet of Canada....
, performing in Spring Waters, Corsaire, Swan Lake, Walpurgisnacht and many others. The pair won the Gold Medal at Il Festival De La Opera, Madrid for their performance of Giselle, and Adams was Samsova's partner during her historic audition for the Paris Opera.
Samsova subsequently formed a small company with André Prokovsky
André Prokovsky
André Prokovsky was a principal dancer with New York City Ballet from 1963 to 1967 and roles in George Balanchine’s 1965 Pas de Deux and Divertissement and 1966 Brahms–Schoenberg Quartet with Melissa Hayden his partner in both.Born of Russian parents Prokovsky made his stage debut in 1954 with the...
, the New London Ballet, which toured in five continents with a repertory consisting mostly of especially created works.
After the company ended, she followed Prokovsky in Italy where he had accepted the directorship of the Rome Opera House for two years.
In 1978 she danced as a guest with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (now called Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
), joining the company as a Principal and teacher two years later.
After retiring from the stage, she became the artistic director of Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
and she occasionally came back to Rome to stage Prokovsky's Sleeping Beauty and her own production of Swan Lake.
She has been a mentor to a few young ballerinas in Great Britain: first Italian Viviana Durante
Viviana Durante
Viviana Durante is an Italian-born English prima ballerina who is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest and most dramatic ballerinas of her time. She was formerly a Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet. She has performed internationally as a Guest Principal, since 2003 predominantly in Japan...
, spotted by Samsova at the Rome ballet school at age 10; and then Spanish Tamara Rojo
Tamara Rojo
Tamara Rojo is a Spanish prima ballerina, and is currently a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.Rojo was born in Montreal, Canada, to Spanish parents who moved back to Spain when she was four months old...
, invited by Samsova to join the Scottish Ballet as a guest to make her UK debut at age 20.
External links
- Galina Samsova's Profile, Birmingham Royal Ballet
- Andre Prokovsky - Daily Telegraph obituary