Alexis Rassine (1919–1992). Lithuanian-born South African dancer and teacher

Alexis Rassine was born (as Alec Raysman) in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1919. Originally speaking Russian, he moved with his family to South Africa in 1929. There, from 1934, he studied ballet with Maude Lloyd, but in 1937 travelled to Paris where he became a pupil of Olga Preobrajanska. Rassine initially danced in cabaret, but, failing to obtain a contract to dance with the Paris Opéra, moved to London in 1938, where he studied with Stanislas Idzikowski and Vera Volkova. He danced with Ballet Rambert and Trois Arts Ballet, and joined the Anglo-Polish Ballet in 1940.

From 1942 until 1955 Rassine performed with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. At a time when talented male dancers were in short supply, he became a mainstay of the company, dancing in the classics, as well as new works by Frederick Ashton, Robert Helpmann and Ninette de Valois, among others. He was famous as a partner to leading ballerinas, but was also noted for his characterisation in dramatic roles and his ease in more light-hearted pieces.

Rassine toured to South Africa with Nadia Nerina in 1952 and 1955, but, with the advent of more male principals, left Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1955 (he returned in 1958 as a guest artist to dance in Giselle, partnering Yvette Chauviré). After 1955 Rassine danced with Walter Gore’s London Ballet and with companies abroad. He also taught in London, before his death in 1992 at his cottage in Crawley, Sussex.