Behind every great choreographer is a story untold.
Vera Fokina was more than Michel Fokine’s wife — she was a ballerina who lived through revolutions, redefined grace, and vanished into history.
Vera Fokina — The Silent Muse of Russian Ballet
Discover the life and legacy of Vera Fokina (née Antonova), a pioneering Russian ballerina and wife of legendary choreographer Michel Fokine. Born on August 3, 1886, Vera Fokina rose to prominence in the early 20th century, performing with the Imperial Ballet and later playing a significant role in the Ballets Russes. This podcast explores her artistic journey, her influence on modern ballet, and her final years in New York, where she passed away in 1958. A fascinating story of grace, resilience, and the cultural currents that shaped a ballet legend
0:00 - Intro: Why Vera Fokina Matters
0:50 - Early Life in St. Petersburg
1:30 - From Ballet School to the Mariinsky
2:00 - Artistic Union with Michel Fokine
3:00 - Breaking Classical Boundaries
3:50 - The Diaghilev Years: Firebird & Beyond
4:50 - Leaving Russia After the Revolution
5:30 - Building Ballet in America
6:10 - Legacy, Art, and Final Years
7:30 - Reflections on Partnership & Resilience
🎧 Featuring rare insights, archival materials, and a deep dive into the golden age of Russian ballet.
Vera Fokina, Russian ballerina, Ballets Russes, Michel Fokine, Imperial Ballet, ballet history, Russian ballet, early 20th century ballet, ballet podcast, dance history, women in ballet, classical ballet, Vera Antonova, ballet biography, ballet legends, New York ballet scene, Russian emigration, ballet pioneers, ballet couples, ballet archive
Curated for you by iuliiia Zhukovskia
Vera Fokina was more than Michel Fokine’s wife — she was a ballerina who lived through revolutions, redefined grace, and vanished into history.
Vera Fokina — The Silent Muse of Russian Ballet
Discover the life and legacy of Vera Fokina (née Antonova), a pioneering Russian ballerina and wife of legendary choreographer Michel Fokine. Born on August 3, 1886, Vera Fokina rose to prominence in the early 20th century, performing with the Imperial Ballet and later playing a significant role in the Ballets Russes. This podcast explores her artistic journey, her influence on modern ballet, and her final years in New York, where she passed away in 1958. A fascinating story of grace, resilience, and the cultural currents that shaped a ballet legend
0:00 - Intro: Why Vera Fokina Matters
0:50 - Early Life in St. Petersburg
1:30 - From Ballet School to the Mariinsky
2:00 - Artistic Union with Michel Fokine
3:00 - Breaking Classical Boundaries
3:50 - The Diaghilev Years: Firebird & Beyond
4:50 - Leaving Russia After the Revolution
5:30 - Building Ballet in America
6:10 - Legacy, Art, and Final Years
7:30 - Reflections on Partnership & Resilience
🎧 Featuring rare insights, archival materials, and a deep dive into the golden age of Russian ballet.
Vera Fokina, Russian ballerina, Ballets Russes, Michel Fokine, Imperial Ballet, ballet history, Russian ballet, early 20th century ballet, ballet podcast, dance history, women in ballet, classical ballet, Vera Antonova, ballet biography, ballet legends, New York ballet scene, Russian emigration, ballet pioneers, ballet couples, ballet archive
Curated for you by iuliiia Zhukovskia