Extraordinary — to be

Abstract

The article is dedicated to two participants of the unique round-the-world journey of starving Petrograd children (1918–1921), rescued by the American Red Cross during the Civil War: Irina Venert and Leonid Yakobson. The fate of each of them was connected with the formation of such an artistic phenomenon as “Soviet ballet”. The author analyses the creative uniqueness of Yakobson’s gift as a ballet master and his artistic discoveries. It tells how an experienced viewer, armed with literary abilities, becomes a ballet critic in essence. It happens with Irina Venert. The forms of her statements are varied, the most numerous letters are reviews of performances of idols she honours as leaders in their generation. Her choice of heroes among the performers is very strict and limited: B. V. Shavrov, G. S. Ulanova, G. T. Komleva, V. V. Vasiliev. They are all united by common creative aspirations. The connection between Venert and the founder of Soviet ballet studies Y. I. Slonimsky is traced.