Irina Nijinska

Irina Nijinska (20 November 1913, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire — 2 July 1991, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California) was a Russian-American ballerina of Polish descent, daughter of renowned dancer and choreographer Bronislava Nijinska (1891—1972), and niece of Vaslav Nijinsky (1889—1950). She partnered extensively with her mother, often performing in troupes associated with Bronislava, such as her Théâtre de la Danse Nijinska (1932–34) in Paris, Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo, and Ida Rubinstein's company. After her mother died in 1972, Irina Nijinskaya dedicated most of her time to promoting Bronislava's oeuvre. Between 1972 and 1991, Nijinska produced over 25 ballets based on her mother's choreography for various European, Asian, and American companies, including Oakland Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Eliot Feld's company. Name variations: Irina Nijinska, Irene Nijinskaya, Nizhinskaya, Ирина Александровна Нижинская, Nižinskaâ, Nižynskaja, Ірына Аляксандраўна Ніжынская Nijinska was born in Saint Petersburg in the distinguished ballet dynasty, daughter of Bronislava Nijinska and her first husband, dancer Alexander "Sasha" Kochetovsky (1889—1952). In 1919, after Irina's younger brother Leo was born, their parents separated; Bronislava immigrated to France with both kids in 1921. Irina grew up in Paris, taking lessons with her Polish grandmother and Russian emigré dance teachers. In 1930, seventeen-year-old Irina Nijinska made her stage debut with Olga Spessivtzeva's troupe; she often performed under the stage name "Irina Istomina." In 1935, Irina Nijinska suffered severe injuries in a car accident that killed her 16-year-old brother Leo. During her lengthy recovery, Irina primarily assisted Bronislava Nijinska, helping her to stage Stravinsky's Le Baiser de la Fée at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his Les Noces for Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo in New York. In 1939, as the Second World War began, Irina and Bronislava immigrated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles and focusing on pedagogy; Irina Nijinska taught at her mother's Hollywood Dance Studio between 1941 and 1950. After her mother's death, Irina co-edited and co-translated Bronislava Nijinska's Early Memoirs autobiography, ensuring its publication in 1981. She dedicated most of her efforts to organizing and promoting various ballets with Bronislava's choreography. Irina Nijinska died at 77 at a Californian hospital several days after suffering a stroke in Amsterdam, Netherlands.