Karsavina Tamara: was born in St Petersburg in 1885. She studied with the Imperial Ballet School. She graduated into the Mariinsky Theatre in 1902 as a soloist and was promoted to ballerina in 1909. She stayed with the Mariinsky until 1918, while she was also a leading ballerina of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from its beginning in 1909 until 1922. Between 1909 and 1914 (paired with Nijinsky until 1913) she created many famous roles. She married a British diplomat in 1917 and moved to London. She became a major influence in British ballet as vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dancing, and as advisor to the Royal Ballet stagings of Diaghilev ballets as well as The Nutcracker, Giseele Tamara became a legend in her own life time. Her technical perfection, wit, rare intelligence, and deep feeling made her a prima ballerina for all times. She died in London May 26, 1978 at the age of 93.