Bolshoi prima ballerina Semyonova dies at age 102

[June 10, 2010]  MOSCOW (AP) -- The Bolshoi Theater has announced the death of Soviet-era prima ballerina Marina Semyonova.

Semyonova died at her home Wednesday. She was 102.

Semyonova was born in St. Petersburg in 1908. She graduated from Agrippina Vaganova's ballet school in 1925 and joined the Bolshoi in 1930.

She performed with Bolshoi until 1952. Her repertoire included Princess Florine in Sleeping Beauty, Odette-Odile in Swan Lake, Raymonda, Giselle and Esmeralda.

In 1935, she danced as a guest at the Paris Opera, where she performed Giselle with Serge Lifar.

After retiring, she worked as a ballet coach, teaching Natalia Bessmertnova, Nina Sorokina, Nadezhda Pavlova and Maya Plisetskaya among others.

The Bolshoi had no immediate information about funeral arrangements.

[Associated Press]

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