Soviet ballerina Messerer Sulamith

The bright life of Sulamith Messerer strikes with its richness and expression. The ballerina took place in the profession, she could realize her talent in the pedagogical sphere, influenced the world ballet and at the same time lived with incredible passion and inspiration. If there are examples of full life, then Messerer Sulamith is a striking example, whose biography is full of ups, drama and great achievements.

Unusual family of artistic dentist

August 27, 1908 in a large family of a Moscow dentist, a girl was born, which according to family tradition was called the ancient biblical name of Sulamith. The Messerer family was very peculiar, despite the completely prosaic profession, its head was very fond of art, was an avid theatergoer and conveyed this feeling to all his children. He was very erudite, fluent in seven foreign languages, was friends with many representatives of the creative and scientific intelligentsia of Moscow, for example, with Professor Zhirmunsky and the famous singer Sirota. Mikhail Borisovich himself was also not deprived of acting talent, but it was realized only in domestic performances.

The Messerer's children chose their creative professions. The son of Azarius became a theater director, later he headed the Theater. Ermolova. Daughter Rachel became a film actress, Elizabeth - a theatrical actress in the studio Zavadsky, son Emmanuel - a musician. But the main family passion and achievement was the ballet. Messerer Sr. was very fond of the theater, however, the brother of Sulamith Asaf, who was able to convey his passion for dancing to his sister, became the main admirer of dance art and thus determined her fate. Asaf studied in the choreography school and later became a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater. In such an atmosphere, Sulamith simply could not escape the scenes, especially since her natural data was magnificent.

Childhood of the future star

The early years of Sulamith Messerer were very happy. A large family, it had 10 children, wealth, creative atmosphere - all this had a fruitful effect on the girl. At the same time, she had a bright temperament and self-will since childhood, and these traits remained with her forever.

Family ties throughout life for Sulamith will be very important, she always happily recalled her childhood, which was for her a kind of remembrance of paradise. Father and mother embodied for her samples of the best human qualities. She perceived her father as a patriarch, and her mother became an example of courage and selflessness.

Formation of the ballerina

The family artistry Messererov passed and Sulamith. Therefore, she was sent to the choreography school at the age of 12, she was immediately taken to the third grade due to her outstanding natural data. Already in the years of study she demonstrated her "brand" qualities: the highest diligence and endurance, even for a child she could rehearse for hours. The teachers marked her strong leap and stormy temperament. She happened to learn from the outstanding masters of the ballet: V. Tikhomirova, E. P. Gerdt, V. Mosolov. Already in the school it was clear that Sulamith Messerer - an extraordinary dancer. This confirmed the invitation to the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater immediately after graduation, in 1926.

Brilliant career of a dancer

Having come to the Bolshoi Theater, Sulamith Messerer quickly became a soloist. For her, Igor Moiseev staged the play "Three Fat Men" based on the tale of Y. Olesha, in which she was able to demonstrate her best dancing qualities: jump, rotation, temperament, character. Later there was a lot of premieres and luck, so she shone in the performances "Red Poppy", "Don Quixote", "The Nutcracker", "Vain Precaution", "Bright Stream", "Scarlet Sails". In all parties she demonstrates her character and dances the most diverse roles. Her career developed in increasing order, she managed to go on foreign tours, she was the first of the Soviet ballerinas to get a contract for a foreign tour, she danced for Stalin, was awarded the Stalin Prize. Messerer leaves the career of a dancer in 1950, but does not part with the ballet.

Pedagogical career

While still a soloist, Sulamith began to teach in the ballet class. And after the end of her career, the dancers were offered to stay in the Bolshoi as a choreographer-tutor and teacher. She also worked in the ballet school. Her pedagogical technique was unique, she never dismissed the students and could unleash the most shy girl. For almost thirty years of teaching career Messerer learned many wonderful dancers, actively participated in the creation of performances of the Bolshoi Theater. She, as always in life, gave herself to the cause with passion and dedication.

Life as a leap

At the end of the 70s, the Great formed a difficult, almost unbearable situation for Messerer, trying to bring it to general requirements, forced to fulfill some formal requirements. Sulamith Mikhailovna, who never tolerated the restriction of her independence, at this moment she gladly accepts an invitation to work in Japan. In 1980, the USSR enters the war in Afghanistan, difficult times begin, and Messerer together with his son decides not to return to their homeland. For several years they have been working in Japan, in fact, they are forming a national ballet school, which today continues to gain fame, based on the grounds laid by Messers. Having fulfilled the contract in Japan, the mother and son leave for the US, so their creative and teaching tandem develops, which gave them contracts with the best ballet schools in the world. But they found their place in the troupe of the Royal London Ballet, where Sulamith Mikhailovna had worked for many years.

Influence on the world ballet

Messerer Sulamith, whose photo is in any ballet encyclopedia, left a notable mark in the world choreography. She not only was an outstanding dancer, but also brought up a whole galaxy of female students who have taken prominent places in many theaters of the world. In her class in London engaged the greatest dancers: Rudolf Nureyev, Sylvie Guillem, Natalia Makarova, Darcy Bassel, Antoinette Sibley. In addition, she raised her son Mikhail, who became a high-class teacher (he worked for many years at Covent Garden) and a famous ballet master who, since 2009, headed the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg. He is famous for the restored performances, in particular, he returned to the repertoire of the Bolshoi Theater the Asaf Messerer performance "Class-concert".

And of course, the name Messerer Sulamith is forever inscribed in the history of the world ballet due to the fact that she raised the greatest contemporary dancer, Maya Plisetskaya.

Sulamith Messerer and Maya Plisetskaya

Family ties were always very important for Messers, brothers and sisters maintained close ties. But unfortunately, not everyone has a life as brilliant as Asaf and Sulamith. So, their sister Rachel suffered a tragic fate: first shot her husband Mikhail Plisetskogo, and then she herself was sent to the camp. The children of Rachel were taken to Asaf and Sulamith. So in the family of the ballerina appeared a slender girl, whom she brought up as her own daughter, giving her the best that mother can give - a profession. Sulamith Mikhaylovna discerned in the girl great natural inclinations, gave her to the ballet school and herself for many years was her tutor. It was she who put the famous dance "The Dying Swan" for the 14-year-old niece, who became the Plisetskaya card. Sulamith Mihalovna always spoke with love about her pupil and was glad that she adequately continued their family dynasty. Plisetskaya and Messerer rarely saw each other, because they lived in different countries, but their connection was never interrupted.

Character as fate

If there is a tough and cruel profession in the world, then this is ballet. Messerer was able to realize himself in this difficult world thanks to his intelligence and character. All her life she demonstrated independence and passion. She devoted herself to any business with all her heart. Messerer spoke excellently in 5 languages, drove a car as fast as her 70th birthday, and spent her whole life swimming. In her youth she even had a serious choice between a sports and ballet career. Seeing once on the beach a professional swimmer, she was so fascinated by his refined movements that she decided at all costs to learn to move the same way. She comes to the pool and for a year attains the title of USSR swimming champion at 100-meter distance. But still she chose the choice in favor of the ballet, although she regularly went to the pool all her life.

Even in husbands, she chooses a man of an unusual profession - he was a moto and racing driver, the founder of the Soviet school of figure-acrobatic driving on a vertical wall. Grigory Emmanuilovich Levitin became the father of the only son of Sulamith - Michael.

Her character manifested itself not only on the stage, she fought for roles with passion, defended her rightness, contemporaries compare her with a volcano that is ready to erupt at any moment.

At her 90th anniversary, Messerer still issued a few pa from the cancan on stage, proving that she was still fully fit. Sulamith Mikhailovna celebrates her 95th birthday in London, where the Queen awarded her the title of Lady of the British Empire. She refuses to travel to Japan, regretfully noting that the aircraft became difficult to carry.

The days of Messerer Sulamith were over in 2004, suddenly. Despite her venerable age, she was full of strength, energy and plans until the end of her days.