Ivan Clustine

Ivan Clustine Choreographer

Biography

Ivan Clustine (1862–1941), born in Moscow, joined the Bolshoi Theatre in 1878, where he enjoyed a distinguished career as a principal dancer and later as principal ballet master. Arriving in France in 1903, he danced for three seasons with Natalia Trouhanova and Carlotta Zambelli at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. He then opened a school in Paris before joining the Paris Opera, where he became the first foreigner to be appointed director of the ballet company (1909–1914).

Inspired by the innovations of the Ballets Russes, he modernised the repertoire, reinstated professional discipline, abolished the practice of female roles being danced by men in travesti, and replaced the traditional tutu with costumes suited to the themes of the ballets. He also created operatic divertissements and ballets, including La Rousalka, Les Bacchantes, Philotis, danseuse de Corinthe and Hansli le Bossu.

After a period at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, he spent eighteen years accompanying the Anna Pavlova Company on its international tours, creating numerous choreographies for the company. Deeply affected by the ballerina’s death in 1931, he retired to Nice and devoted himself to teaching.

Currently in

Immerse in the Paris Opera universe

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