#asaf messerer

[peopleofthebarre]

The great Plisetskaya discusses her relative, the celebrated teacher Asaf Messerer. 

[semioticapocalypse]

In the ballet class. Centre: Alexander Gorsky, choreographer of the Bolshoi Theatre in 1901-1924. First from the left: choreographer Asaf Messerer. 1921

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[melmothblog]

The 31st of July marks the 100th birthday of Bolshoi ballerina, ballet teacher and the wife of Asaf Messerer, Irina Tikhomirova.

Irina was born in Moscow in 1917, the daughter of a prominent revolutionary, Viktor Tikhomirov. She studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, graduating in 1936 (class of Elizaveta Gerdt). Tikhomirova danced with the Bolshoi from 1936 till 1959.

In 1961, together with her husband, Tikhomirova was sent by the Soviet government to Brussels, in order to found a ballet school there. Together with Messerer, she taught at La Monnaie. The couple’s work was very highly regarded by Bejart.

In 1966, Tikhomirova took part in the creation of the choreographic concert ensemble “The Young Ballet” (artistic director Igor Moiseyev). The ensemble later evolved into the N. Kasatkina and V. Vasilev State Academic Theatre of Classical Ballet (now Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre). 

Tikhomirova passed away in 1984.

[galina-ulanova]

Irina Tikhomirova as Kitri, and Asaf Messerer as Basilio, in Don Quixote (Bolshoi Ballet)

[theparisreview]

Dance of Steel: How Soviet Censors Killed a Great Ballet

In Soviet Russia, getting a ballet off the ground was no mean feat, as Prokofiev learned the hard way.

[peopleofthebarre]

Asaf and Sulamif Messerer, Soviet ballet greats and highly influential teachers, photographed in Stockholm during their landmark tour of Europe, the first time Soviet dancers had ever exhibited abroad. Asaf and Sulamif were uncle and aunt to the legendary Maya Plisetskaya.

[galina-ulanova]

Raisa Struchkova [left] and ballet master Asaf Messerer (Bolshoi Ballet Academy, 1961)

[peopleofthebarre]

Photo: Asaf Messerer with sister Sulamif Messerer, circa 1933, photographer unknown.

A member of the great Messerer-Plisetsky ballet family, Asaf Mikhailovich Messerer is best remembered as a great instructor and choreographer. After a successful career as a touring artist and then the Bolshoi’s principal soloist, he became both choreographer and ballet master for the Bolshoi. His book Classes in Classical Ballet is a thorough review of the art and is still used for study today.

Born in Vilna (now Vilnius), Lithuania, in 1904, Asaf and his sister Sulamif studied independently before joining the Bolshoi Academy as teenagers. Asaf joined the company as a soloist in 1921, and was quickly promoted to principal, a role he retained until his retirement from the stage in 1954. Equally talented as a classical virtuoso and a naturalistic and character actor, his dramatic Siegfried was particularly lauded.

Asaf’s great moment, however, was his 1932-33 tour of Europe with Sulamif. Beginning in the Balkan states, passing through Sweden, lingering in France and dancing in Berlin- even as the Reichstag burned- the Messerers’ tour proved that Russian ballet was alive and well despite its troubles. Asaf choreographed several of his own pieces (notably “The Soccer Player”) for their performances, some of which have entered the repertories of the Bolshoi and other western companies. The Messerers’ tour remains legendary as an example of sparkling talent and virtuosity, and an example of the finest pre-war dance.

Upon returning to the USSR, Asaf continued to dance but began to spend more time on teaching and choreography. He had taught classes at the Academy since 1923, but took over the classe de perfection, the highest professional class, in 1942. He retired from the stage in 1954 and became a full-time teacher and choreographer, as well as the director for the Bolshoi’s foreign tours during the 50s and 60s. The Bolshoi’s landmark 1962 tour to America included to Asaf pieces- “Ballet School” and “Spring Waters,” both of which solidified the Bolshoi’s bravura reputation abroad. He was often also “lent” to other schools abroad to teach master classes or coach specific dancers.

Asaf continued to teach at the Bolshoi and abroad right up until his death at age 88 in 1992. He was survived by his neice, Maya Plisetskaya, and his son Boris, a set designer for the Bolshoi.

Further reading: NYT obit, archival Jacob’s Pillow footage of “Spring Waters”, “Tours that made history,” an essay by Azary Plisetsky (Asaf’s nephew), Messerer family overview