Velda Otsus (24 August 1913

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after the Northern European country's political and financial capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 91,407 (as of 2021). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of ...

– 16 August 2006

Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...

) was an

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

n ballet dancer and stage actress. In 1932 she graduated from Tartu Girls' Gymnasium (). During the studies she studied dancing in Tiina Kapper's private studio. From 1932 until 1950, she was the principal ballerina at the

Vanemuine Vanemuine () is a theatre in Tartu, Estonia. It was the first Estonian language theatre. History ''1870–1906 The Beginning of the Beginning. Koidula’s Theatre, Wiera’s Theatre.'' On June 24, 1870 was the first day in Estonian theatre ...

, and from 1950 until 1961, an actress at the Vanemuine. From 1961 until 1982, she was an actress at the

Estonian Drama Theatre The Estonian Drama Theatre ( et, Eesti Draamateater) is a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. It has the role of a national theatre for Estonia. The Estonia Theatre is located next door. History The building that houses the Estonian Drama Theatre was or ...

. Awards: * 1955: Meritorious Artist of the Estonian SSR * 1988: Best Actress of the Year * 1993 Estonian National Culture Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award * 1999:

Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star ( et, Valgetähe teenetemärk; french: Ordre de l'Etoile Blanche) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic ...

, IV class.

Roles

* Aminta (Benatzky's "Kolm musketäri", 1932 and 1945) * Barbara (Karma's "Lembitu", 1933) * Azuri (Romberg's "Kõrbelaul", 1934)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Otsus, Velda 1913 births 2006 deaths Estonian ballet dancers Estonian female dancers Estonian stage actresses 20th-century Estonian actresses Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 4th Class Actresses from Tartu People from Tartu Burials at Rahumäe Cemetery Soviet ballet dancers Soviet actresses