The Many Lives of Alexandra Danilova

Alexandra Danilova lived a long, adventurous and multi-faceted life. A prima ballerina who exuded an intense perfume throughout that entire life, she is remembered as a force of nature, and with real joy and genuine affection by all who knew her, learned from her, or simply knew who she was. 

Born in Czarist Russia, fleeing the Soviet Revolution alongside George Balanchine, she danced for decades more, on international stages as well as Broadway and Hollywood. Her work as a teacher at the School of American Ballet is legendary, as were her diaphanous dance skirts, beribboned ballet slippers, glamorous make-up and perfectly coiffed hair. In 1974, she collaborated with Balanchine to restage the first two acts of his new production of Coppelia, in the process coaching one of her most famous roles. Her appearance in the iconic dance film The Turning Point, basically playing herself, preserves forever her unmistakable speaking voice and enchanting manner. 

Here to discuss her many lives is a panel that represents these different aspects of “Choura,” as she was known. Patricia McBride, former NYCB principal, will discuss how Coppelia was set on her by Danilova; former NYCB principal Maria Calegari will talk about being Mme. Danilova’s student who was taught her favorite roles for Workshop productions; Kim Kokich, Danilova’s goddaughter, will speak of her relationship with Choura, and share her memories and anecdotes. Elizabeth Kendall, dance historian and author who has written about Danilova’s early years in two books about Balanchine, will moderate. Presented in conjunction with The George Balanchine Foundation.

Photo Credit: Alexandra Danilova as Swanhilda in Coppelia, 1950-1957. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

SEATING POLICY | Programs are free and open to all, but registration is requested. Check-in line forms 45 minutes before the advertised start time. Registered guests are given priority check-in 15 to 30 minutes before start time. Five minutes before the advertised start time, all seats are released, regardless of registration, to our patrons in the stand-by line. If you arrive after the program starts, you will be seated at the discretion of our front-of-house staff.

STANDBY LINE | If registration is sold out or has ended, do not fret! We welcome you to come to the Library regardless of registration status and wait in our standby line, which forms 45 minutes before the advertised start time. Five minutes before the program starts, all remaining seats are released. While this is not guaranteed, we will do our best to get you into any of our programs.

ASSISTIVE LISTENING AND ASL | ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing [email protected].

BRUNO WALTER POLICY | Please note that any unoccupied seat will be released five minutes before the show begins and holding seats for anyone beyond that is prohibited. There is no food or drink allowed inside the venue.

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING | Programs may be photographed and recorded by and at the discretion of the Library for the Performing Arts and will post signs indicating as such. If you would prefer your image not be captured, please let us know and we can seat you accordingly. Attending any program indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any and all purposes of the New York Public Library.

PRESS | Please send all press inquiries to Alex Teplitzky at [email protected]. Please note that all recording, including professional video recordings, are prohibited without expressed consent from the Library.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher New York Public Library for the Performing Arts