Messerer, Sulamith (1908–2004)
Messerer, Sulamith (1908–2004)
Russian ballerina and choreographer. Born Sulamith Mikhailovna Messerer, Aug 27, 1908, in Moscow, Russia; died June 3, 2004, in London, England; dau. of a Lithuanian Jewish dentist; sister of Asaf Messerer (1903–1992, ballet dancer) and Raissa Messerer (actress and mother of Maya Plisetskaya); m. Gregory Levitin (motorcyclist), 1947; children: Mikhail Levitin (dance teacher).
The Bolshoi Ballet's prima ballerina for more than 20 years, began training there at 8, joined the company (1926), became prima ballerina (1928), and danced all the major roles; was especially acclaimed for Kitri in Don Quixote, Zarema in The Fountain of Bakhchisarai and Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée; she and her brother Asaf became the 1st Soviet dancers to be granted permission to perform in western Europe (1933); was instrumental in establishing classical ballet in Japan (1961); defected to Berlin with her son (1980), then settled in London, where she taught; also held the Soviet swimming record for the 100-meters crawl (1927–30). Became an OBE (2000).