Irina Baronova, the Last "Baby Ballerina," Dies at 89

Lindsay Live | Jul 03, 2008 | 0

Irina Baronova, photograph from c. 1937

International ballet star Irina Baronova, who was discovered in Paris in the 1930s, passed away at her home in Australia on June 28 at the age of 89. She was the last of the three "Baby Ballerinas" made famous by George Balanchine.

Publicity still of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo’s “baby ballerinas” (Tatiana Riabouchinska, Tamara Toumanova and Irina Baronova), circa 1934. © Dan Geller, Dayna Goldfine

Baronova rose to fame in 1932 at the age of 13 when Balanchine, who was then the ballet master of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, took her under his wing along with 2 other young dancers, Tamara Toumanova and Tatiana Riabouchinska.

The three Russian-born prodigies, who were dubbed the "baby ballerinas" by British critic Arnold Haskell, toured the world with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo performing in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Before retiring from the stage at the age of 27, Baranova also danced with Ballet Theatre (now American Ballet Theatre).  

Baronova, who had an extensive range as a dancer, began her career performing newer works by choreographers George Balanchine, Leonide Massine, and Bronislava Nijinska, but also took on classical roles like Odette in "Swan Lake" and Aurora in "The Sleeping Beauty."

In 1946, Baronova married Cecil Tennant with whom she had three children, Victoria, Irina and Robert. In 1974, she returned to ballet as a teacher and a consultant for various projects and in 2005, she wrote her autobiography, "Irina: Ballet, Life and Love."

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Ballet, Enthusiast, Baby Ballerinas, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, George Balanchine (all tags)