Struchkova, Raissa (1925–2005)

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Struchkova, Raissa (1925–2005)

Soviet ballet dancer. Name variations: Raisa Struchkova. Born Raissa Stepanovna Struchkova, Oct 5, 1925, in Moscow, Russia; died May 2, 2005, in Moscow; m. Aleksandr Lapauri (ballet dancer, died 1975).

Trained at Bolshoi Ballet school, principally with Yelisaveta Gerdt, and created title role in The Little Stork (1937), while a student; graduated into Bolshoi company (1944) and danced as Lise, Giselle, Juliet, Cinderella, Odette/Odile and Aurora, and heroines of such Soviet classics as The Red Poppy; partnered husband Aleksandr Lapauri in pas de deux on tour, including in his Moszkowski Waltz and Spring Waters; was editor of Soviet Ballet magazine (1981–85); served as artistic director of the faculty of choreography of Russian Academy of Theatre Arts.

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