Serge Lifar (1905-1986). Russian dancer, director and choreographer

Serge Lifar was born in Kyiv in 1905. He studied under Bronislava Nijinska, and in 1921 was sent by Serge Diaghilev to study under Enrico Cecchetti in Turin. In 1923 Lifar joined Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes and became a premier danseur in 1925. Following Diaghilev’s death and the dispersal of his company, in 1929 Lifar was invited to direct, dance and choreograph at the Paris Opéra. He remained there as its major choreographic and artistic force until 1958. History will also record a “duel” he fought that year against George de Cuevas following a disagreement over a ballet of Lifar’s that the Cuevas company was performing.

Lifar was one of Diaghilev’s greatest male dancers, regarded by many as Nijinsky’s successor. A controversial figure at the Paris Opéra, Lifar choreographed most of the ballets in repertoire during his time there. After he was replaced in 1958, he worked occasionally in Paris until his death in Lausanne in 1986.