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Sonja Taanila, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1948-1949 [picture] / Maurice Seymour, Chicago
Bib ID 3426280
Format PicturePicture, OnlineOnline
Author Seymour, Maurice, 1904-
Online Versions http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3426280
Description 1948-1949. 
1 photograph : gelatin silver ; 25.8 x 25.2 cm. 
Series Valrene Tweedie collection of dance photographs from the Ballets Russes. 
Biography/History Born in New York City on May 29, 1928. Sonja was the younger sister of Gertrude Tyven (Gertrude Svobodina). When Sonja was dancing with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo her sister Gertrude was also a member -- therefore she used the name Sonja Taanila. She began her early training with Vecheslav Swobada and Maria Yurieva. Later she studied with Igor Schwezoff in New York City and Olga Prebrajenska in Paris. Sonja also studied with George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet. In 1946 she joined Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and stayed until 1952. Sonja Tyven danced in many ballets such as: Les Sylphides, Carnival, Les Elves, Scheherazade, Prince Igor, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Gaite Parisienne.  While with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Sonja met Robert Lindgren and they were married in 1952. They have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. Sonja Tyven's Broadway credits included Me and Juliet, Oklahoma, and On Your Toes. She also danced in a number of television shows among them Max Liebman Spectaculars, and Omnibus, choreographed by Agnes de Mille. With her husband they danced with Alexandra Danilova's Great Moments of Ballet, adding more ballets to her credits. In 1957 Sonja joined The New York City Ballet. Together, Robert Lindgren and Sonja Tyven opened a ballet school, Lindgren-Tyven School of Ballet, in Phoenix, Arizona. When Robert moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to head the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), his wife Sonja took on the position as Director of the Richmond School of Ballet, as well as Ballet Mistress of the North Carolina Dance Theater. Eventually Sonja became director of the Pre-Program NCSA. From 1987 - 91 Sonja taught ballet at the YMHA in New York City. 
Notes

Title devised by cataloguer based on caption on reverse.

"Married Robert Lindgren, danced with NYCB, came to Australia with NYCB in 1958".--Inscriptions in pencil on verso.

Autographed: "To dear Valrene - I'll sure miss you but I wish you the best of everything always - Love - Donka."--On photograph, lower left corner.

Photographer's stamp and number '132' appear on recto.

Part of the collection: Valrene Tweedie collection of dance photographs from the Ballets Russes.

"Moss Photo, N.Y."--Inscriptions lower right corner.

Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3426280

Subjects Taanila, Sonja - 1928- - Portraits.  |  Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo - Photographs.  |  Ballets Russes - Performances - Photographs.  |  Ballet dancers - Portraits.  |  Ballet - Photographs.
Occupation Ballet dancers.
Other Authors Lindgren, Robert  |  Moss Photo
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Details Collect From
PIC/9219/5 LOC Box PIC/9219 Manual Request only from Pictures Reading Room, 2nd Floor
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