Doubrovska, Felia, 1896-1981

Russian-American dancer and teacher.

Felia Doubrovska (Felizata Dlouzhnevska, Dluzhnevska), 1896-1981,was born in Russia and was trained at the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg, graduating in 1913. She then joined the Maryinsky Ballet . In 1920 she left for Europe and danced with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, where George Balanchine created roles for her including Polyhymnia in Apollo (1928) and the Siren in Prodigal Son (1929).

Doubrovska married an acclaimed Russian dancer, Pierre Vladimiroff (Petr Nikolaev), in 1921, and they moved to the United States in 1934 when Vladimiroff was invited by Balanchine to teach at the School of American Ballet . Doubrovska was guest ballerina with de Basil's Ballets Russes in 1937 and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in 1938-1939, but then retired from her performing career. In 1949 she joined the staff of the School of American Ballet, teaching the advanced girls' classes, and she remained on its staff until a year before her death.