|
IN MEMORIAM
IGOR YOUSKEVITCH
Igor Youskevitch, professor emeritus
of theatre and dance, died on June 13, 1994. He was 82.
Professor Youskevitch was born on March
13, 1912, in Pyriatin, Russia. He studied dance with the former Russian
Kirov dancer Nadejda Boliakova. Later, he studied in Paris with Olga
Preobrajenska, a former prima ballerina. Under her tutelage, he continued
to study the Russian Kirov style that greatly influenced the classical
roles he undertook in his career.
In 1938 Professor Youskevitch joined
the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a principal dancer. He joined the
American Ballet Theater in 1946. He returned to the Ballet Russe de
Monte Carlo as its premiere dancer and artistic director in 1955. Professor
Youskevitch also appeared in the film Invitation to the Dance,
which was written and directed by Gene Kelly.
Professor Youskevitch was renowned as
one of the greatest male dancers for his roles in such classics as Swan
Lake and in such contemporary works as A Streetcar Named Desire.
His partnership with Alicia Alonso in Giselle and other classical
ballets gained him international recognition.
Upon his retirement from dance in 1966,
Professor Youskevitch opened a ballet school in New York City. He joined
the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in 1971 and taught
until 1982, bringing national prominence to the University's dance program.
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
Biographical sketch prepared by Teresa Palomo
Acosta and posted on the Faculty Council web site on December
20, 2000. Additional biographical sources can be found in the
Barker Texas History Center and the UT Office of Public Affairs.
|
