Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986

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Russian dancer and choreographer.

From the description of Serge Lifar autograph letter to Leonide Massine, ca. 1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 370392712

Serge Lifar, dancer, choreographer and author, was born in Kiev, Russia in 1905. He studied with Bronislava Nijinska, who brought him to Paris in 1923 where he joined Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. He became a protege of Diaghilev, was named premiere danseur in 1925, and remained with the company through it s last season in 1929.

From the guide to the Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1928, 1924-1928, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

The Russian dancer Serge Lifar emigrated to France in 1922. From 1923 he was associated with the Russian ballets of Diaghilev. In 1929 Lifar became the star of the Paris Opera, as well as a dance teacher and choreographer. He was the director of the Paris Université de la danse.

From the description of L'architecture dans la chorégraphie, 1977. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 81151116

Serge Lifar joined Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1923 where he quickly became Diaghilev's protégé. After taking classes with the famous ballet teacher Enrico Cecchetti arranged for him by Diaghilev, Lifar became leading dancer of Ballets Russes. After Diaghilev's death in 1929, Lifar joined Paris Opera as premier danseur and ballet master.

From the guide to the Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1929., (Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Serge Lifar (1905-1986) was a French dancer and choreographer. Igor Markevitch (1912-1983) was a French composer and conductor.

From the description of Letters from Igor Markevitch and others, 1931-1986. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79489759

Serge Lifar was leading dancer of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from 1924 to 1929.

From the description of Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1929. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 612744059

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Sauguet, Henri, 1901-1989. Trésor et Magie : divertissement choréographique de Serge Lifar / Henri Sauguet. Northwestern University
referencedIn Serge Diaghilev papers, 1910-1929 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Hightower, Rosella,. Interview with Rosella Hightower. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1928, 1924-1928 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Deakin, Natasha,. Interview with Natasha Deakin. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1929. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Gothenburg Ballet (Company). [Souvenir program] Serge Lifar Gala, Stora Teatern, Göteborg, Dec. 5, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. L'architecture dans la chorégraphie, 1977. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Grigorʹev, S. L. (Sergeĭ Leonidovich), 1883-1968. S. L. (Sergeĭ Leonidovich) Grigorʹev papers, 1889-1972. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cimarosa, Domenico, 1749-1801. Balli : manuscript, 1917-1918 / Cimarosa. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Villa-Lobos, Heitor, 1887-1959. Uirapurú (The Magic Bird) / (O Passaro Encantado) / (Bailado Brasileiro) / de / H. Villa-Lobos / Rio, 1917 orquestraçao reformada em 1934 / (A Serge Lifar). Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Fitzherbert, Diana Isobel Erskine, Lady. Letter, [n.d., London, to Boris Kochno? London. 1] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Olga Spessivtzeva collection and letters, 1949-1991 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation research files, 1920-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Debussy, Claude, 1862-1918. Jeux : poeme danse de Nijinsky / musique de Claude Debussy ; partition pour piano reduite par l'auteur. Yale University Library
referencedIn Helene Obolensky papers, 1910-1994, 1976-1984 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Obolensky, Helene. Helene Obolensky papers, 1910-1994 (bulk 1976-1984). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Papers, 1910-1929. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Ripon, Constance Gladys, Marchioness of, 1859-1917,. Scrapbooks concerning Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, 1909-1914. Houghton Library
referencedIn Grigorʹev, S. L. (Sergeĭ Leonidovich), 1883-1968. Serge Grigoriev/Ballets Russes archive, 1909-2009 (bulk 1909-1952). Library of Congress
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Au service de la danse; à la recherche d'une science: La chorélogie. Archives - témoignages - réflexions. Paris, Université de la Danse, 1958. 227-235 p. 30 cm. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Serge Lifar autograph letter to Leonide Massine, ca. 1960. Library of Congress
referencedIn Geva, Tamara,. Interview with Tamara Geva. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Vyroubova, Nina,. Interview with Nina Vyroubova. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Serge Lifar letters to Serge Diaghilev, 1924-1929. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Franklin, Frederic, 1914-. Interview with Frederic Franklin. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Moore, Lillian. Scrapbooks. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf William A. Bradley Literary Agency, 1923-1982. William A. Bradley Literary Agency Records 1909-1982. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986,. Letters from Igor Markevitch and others, 1931-1986. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
creatorOf LIFAR, SERGE. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Doubrovska, Felia, 1896-1981. Papers, ca. 1919-1981. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986,. Interview with Serge Lifar. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Autograph postcard signed, dated : Venice, 24 August 1949, to M. and Mme. Vuillermoz in Paris, 1949 Aug. 24. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. [Clippings] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Guest, Ivor Forbes. Letters to Lillian Moore, 1949. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Picasso et les Ballets Russes de Diaghilev. 9 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Fern, Dale,. Olga Spessivtzeva collection and letters, 1949-1991. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Cutler, Eugene C.,. Cutler theater collection. Pennsylvania State University, Commonwealth
referencedIn Felia Doubrovska papers, ca. 1919-1981 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Schmitt, Florent, 1870-1958. Oriane : réd. : d'après un poème de Claude Séran en avignonnais à la fin du XVIe siècle / Florent Schmitt, op. 83, St-Cloud : manuscript, 1934 April. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Noble, Celia Brunel James, Lady, d. 1962. Letters to Sergeĭ Dyagilev, 1927, [London] 2 items. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Serge Grigoriev/Ballets Russes Archive, 1909-2009, (bulk 1909-1952) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Parmenia Migel papers, 1945-1990. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn St. Just, Florence Emily Henderson Grenfell, Baroness. Letter, [192?] July 2, [London] to Sergeĭ Dyagilev. [2] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Horowitz, Vladimir, 1903-1989. The papers of Vladimir and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz, 1784-1991 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Un illustre choréateur: Léonide Massine - mon maître. 1979. 8 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Notes, [1942]. Harvard University, Harvard Theater Collection, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Inga-Lisa, Comtesse. [Hommage à Serge Lifar] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Correspondence, 1937-1966. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Leslie, Caird. Letter, 1969 Aug. 26, New York, to Marian Horosko, [New York] [7] p. on 6 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986,. Interview with Serge Lifar. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Howard D. Rothschild collection on, Ballets Russes, of Serge Diaghilev: Photographs and scrapbooks, 1909-1975. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Lifar, Serge, 1905-1986. Letters to Serge Diaghilev. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Serge Lifar collection, Wadsworth Atheneum. [Clippings] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Diaghilev, Serge, 1872-1929. Serge Diaghilev/Serge Lifar collection, 1750-1950 (bulk 1890-1929). Library of Congress
referencedIn Satie, Erik, 1866-1925. Scènes nouvelles for Le médecin malgré lui by Charles Gounod. Yale University Library
creatorOf Toscanini, Walter, 1898-1971,. The Walter Toscanini Collection of research materials in dance: C1, CE, CE1. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Dandré, Victor, d. 1944. Letter, 1931, February 2, London to Serge Lifar. 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Jasinski, Roman, 1912-1991,. Interview with Roman Jasinski. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Doubrovska, Felia, 1896-1981. Papers, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Gruen, John,. Interviews with Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Doone, Rupert, 1903-1966. Letter, 1925 July 27, London, to Allan Ross Macdougall, [Toulon], France. [1] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Rieti, Vittorio, 1898-1994,. Interview with Vittorio Rieti. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Serge Diaghilev/Serge Lifar Collection, 1750-1950, (bulk 1890-1929) Library of Congress. Music Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ballet russes. corporateBody
associatedWith Ballets Russes (Diaghilev) corporateBody
associatedWith Ballets Russes (Diaghilev) corporateBody
associatedWith Bowers, Theresa, person
associatedWith Brayer, Yves, 1907- person
associatedWith Cecchetti, Enrico, 1850-1928. person
associatedWith Cimarosa, Domenico, 1749-1801. person
associatedWith Cutler, Eugene C., person
associatedWith Dandré, Victor, d. 1944. person
associatedWith Deakin, Natasha, person
associatedWith Debussy, Claude, 1862-1918. person
correspondedWith Diaghilev, Serge person
associatedWith Diaghilev, Serge, 1872-1929. person
associatedWith Diaghliev person
associatedWith Doone, Rupert, 1903-1966. person
associatedWith Doubrovska, Felia, 1896-1981. person
associatedWith Egk, Werner, 1901-1983. person
associatedWith Fern, Dale person
associatedWith Fern, Dale, person
associatedWith Fitzherbert, Diana Isobel Erskine, Lady. person
associatedWith Franklin, Frederic, 1914- person
associatedWith Geva, Tamara, person
associatedWith Gothenburg Ballet (Company) corporateBody
associatedWith Grigorʹev, S. L. (Sergeĭ Leonidovich), 1883-1968. person
associatedWith Grigoriev, S. L. (Sergeĭ Leonidovich), 1883-1968 person
associatedWith Gruen, John, person
associatedWith Guest, Ivor Forbes. person
associatedWith Harris, Dale, person
associatedWith Hightower, Rosella, person
associatedWith Horowitz, Vladimir, 1903-1989. person
associatedWith Howard D. Rothschild, collector. person
associatedWith Jasinski, Roman, 1912-1991, person
associatedWith John Milton and Ruth Neils Ward Collection (Harvard Theatre Collection) corporateBody
associatedWith Leslie, Caird. person
associatedWith Maison Doucet corporateBody
associatedWith Markevitch, Dimitry, person
associatedWith Markevitch, Igor, 1912-1983. person
associatedWith Massine, Leonide, 1896-1979. person
correspondedWith Migel, Parmenia. person
associatedWith Moore, Lillian. person
associatedWith Nijinska, Bronislava, 1891-1972. person
associatedWith Noble, Celia Brunel James, Lady, d. 1962. person
associatedWith Obolensky, Helene. person
associatedWith Opéra de Paris. corporateBody
associatedWith Opéra de Paris. Ballet. corporateBody
associatedWith Paris. Opéra. Ballet. corporateBody
associatedWith Picasso, Pablo, 1881-1973. person
associatedWith Rieti, Vittorio, 1898-1994, person
associatedWith Ripon, Constance Gladys, Marchioness of, 1859-1917, person
associatedWith Satie, Erik, 1866-1925. person
associatedWith Sauguet, Henri, 1901-1989. person
associatedWith Schmitt, Florent, 1870-1958. person
associatedWith St. Just, Florence Emily Henderson Grenfell, Baroness. person
associatedWith Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Toscanini, Walter, 1898-1971, person
associatedWith Université de la danse (Paris, France) corporateBody
associatedWith Villa-Lobos, Heitor, 1887-1959. person
associatedWith Vuillermoz, Emile, 1879-1960, person
associatedWith Vyroubova, Nina, person
associatedWith William A. Bradley Literary Agency, 1923-1982. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
France
France
France
France--Paris
Subject
Ballet
Ballet
Ballet dancers
Ballets
Choreographers
Choreography
Dance
Manuscripts
Occupation
Choreographer
Activity

Person

Birth 1905-04-02

Death 1986-12-15

French

Russian,

French

Information

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Ark ID: w6mk6bn6

SNAC ID: 7600508