Pierre Vladimiroff

Who was Pierre Vladimiroff?

Pierre Vladimiroff, or Pyotr Nikolayevich Vladimirov, was a Russian dancer and teacher.

Vladimirov graduated from the Imperial Ballet School in 1911 and remained a member of the Imperial Ballet company until 1918. In 1915, he received the title of the first dancer.

In 1920, he and his later wife Felia Doubrovska emigrated to the West, where they joined the Ballets Russes; all roles of Vaslav Nijinsky went to Pierre Vladimiroff. Later, he danced with the Mordkin Ballet and joined Anna Pavlova's company on Pavlova's last tour, becoming her last partner.

From 1934 to 1967, he taught at the School of American Ballet, being the first teacher of the newly founded school to teach the male students.

Among his students were Todd Bolender, John Taras, Willam Christensen, William Dollar, Tanaquil LeClercq, and Maria Tallchief.