Galina Sergeyevna Mezentseva (russian: Галина Серге́евна Мéзенцева, born 8 November 1952,
Stavropol) is a Russian
ballerina, with a career as professional classic dancer from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. Mezentseva completed her dancing studies in 1970 at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was the first of the crop of tall Kirov ballerinas with long and thin lines, introducing a new aesthetic
look to ballet audiences. Mezentseva is recognized as a dramatic
performer, and is known for her improvisation.
[Graeme, Chris]
The Swan Returns
Prospects (St. Petesburg Press Culture and Lifestyle Guide), 116, 1995. (retrieved January 7, 2008)
Career
Mezentseva completed her dancing studies in 1970 at the
Vaganova Ballet Academy in
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
, Russia. After graduation, she got the position of principal dancer at the Kirov/
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet (russian: Балет Мариинского театра) is the resident classical ballet company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russ ...
, keeping it for almost 20 years. In 1990 she left Russia to live in the UK. From 1990 to 1994, Mezentseva worked as a guest dancer at the Scottish Ballet (Glasgow). From 1994 to 2000, she toured the US and other countries as guest star with the Saint-Petesburg State Academic Ballet, directed by
Askold Makarov Askold Anatolievich Makarov (russian: Аско́льд Анато́льевич Мака́ров; 3 May 1925 – 25 December 2000) was a Russian ballet dancer and ballet professor, leading soloist at the Kirov Ballet during the 1960s and early 1970 ...
. Since then Mezentseva has worked as a ballet teacher and as an occasional performer.
[Galina Mezentseva's biography]
Mezentseva's personal site (retrieved December 27, 2007)
Awards
Galina Mezentseva received many prestigious awards and titles: First Prize Laureate Award of the International Ballet Competition in Moscow (1977), Honored Artist of Russia (1978), National State Prize Winner (1980), Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition (Japan, 1980) and The People's Artist
People's Artist is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states (and communist states in general), as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USS ...
of Russia (1983).[
The intensity of Mezentseva's best live performances is believed to not translate well into the (few) available recorded presentations. Most of these recordings were taken after a severe ]achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (h ...
rupture experienced by her in the early 1980s.[Discussion about Galina Mezentseva.]
Ballet Talk Forum 2004-2007 (retrieved January 7, 2008)
Ulyana Lopatkina on Mezentseva
Ulyana Lopatkina, the Kirov's principal dancer (2007), compared Galina Ulanova
Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova (russian: Галина Сергеевна Уланова, ; 21 March 1998) was a Russian ballet dancer. She is frequently cited as being one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.
Biography
Ulanova was born ...
, Ekaterina Maximova
Ekaterina Sergeevna Maximova (russian: Екатерина Сергеевна Максимова; 1 February 1939 – 28 April 2009) was a Soviet and Russian ballerina of the second part of the 20th century who was internationally recognised. Sh ...
and Galina Mezentseva, her favorite ballerinas, in an interview given in 2005:[Dissanayake, Natasha]
Interview with Ulyana Lopatkina.
Ballet Magazine, Jun/Jul, 2005 (retrieved December 27, 2007)
They all had different personalities. Ulanova was sincere, she astonished ballet-goers with her utter fidelity to human feelings. Maximova had exceptional physique and moved very beautifully. And Mezentseva – oh, she was serene, she was a queen, she had poise, beautiful lines and a profound dramatism. She could cast a spell effortlessly. The strongest impression anyone has made on me was Mezentseva with her Dying Swan.
* Mezentseva performing Dying Swan (retrieved January 2, 2008)
Filmography
Galina Mezentseva's Filmography
Ballet lessons and ballet performances at MSN Movies (retrieved January 7, 2008)
Galina Mezentseva, Ballet Dancer (film-concert)
Lentelefilm/Ochakovo Films (Russia, 75 min, color, 1981, retrieved January 7, 2008)
Classical Ballet Lesson
eggy Willis-Aarnio and Galina Mezentseva. Willis Ballet Educational Video Library, 1993, retrieved April 16, 2014
Galina Mezentseva Prima Ballerina Assoluta
Willis Ballet Educational Video Library, 1995 retrieved April 16, 2014.
See also
* List of Russian ballet dancers
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mezentseva, Galina
Prima ballerinas
Russian ballerinas
Soviet artists
People's Artists of Russia
Living people
1952 births
Soviet ballerinas