Of her brother Vaslav Nijinsky Bronislava Nijinska

ballets russes august macke, 1912

it argued bronislava nijinska s brother vaslav nijinsky had greatest influence on her. in nijinska’s memoir, speaks of overwhelming curiosity vaslav possessed young age. low performance in school recorded; nijinska attributes disinterest , impatience. instead wanted explore world , test physical limits. became incredible dancer. @ mariinsky theater , @ ballets russes, too, vaslav rose. vaslav performing principal dancer.

pupil became first person know , influenced radically new ideas regarding dance , desire substitute rigorously stylized form of movement classical ballet tradition.

she describes innovations in creating new blue bird role ballet sleeping princess in 1907: how changed restrictive costume , energized movements. when nijinsky created l après-midi d un faune [afternoon of faun] in 1912 used nijinska rehearse in secret, follow body description of steps 1 one. assisted him in creating le sacre du printemps [rite of spring]. due pregnancy, nijinska withdrew part of chosen maiden. during 1913 south american tour nijinsky controversially married romola de pulszky. if nijinska had been on tour, might have been different. explains in memoirs vaslav reserved and, other herself, had few close colleagues or collaborators in dance world.

although bronislave nijinska identified sister of celebrated vaslav nijinsky, major artist in own right , key figure in development of twentieth-century ballet.