Vaslav Nijinsky

He was married to Hungraian aristocrat Romola de Pulszky in 1913. The couple had two daughters Kyra Nijinsky (born in 1914) and Tamara (born in 1920).

In 1919, he suffered from nervous breakdown and later was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He was then committed to Burghölzli and was later transferred to Bellevue Sanatorium. He spent the last 30 years of his life in and out of asylums and psychiatric hospitals.

His wife published the first biography of Vaslav Nijinsky in 1934. The book contained information about his early career and life. Two years later she released a censored version of his diary that he maintained before being committed to asylums.

Vaslav Nijinsky was born on 12 March 1889 at Kiev in Ukraine, as the second son of celebrated Polish dancers Thomas Laurentiyevich Nijinsky and Eleonora Bereda. He had a brother Stanislav Fomitch (born in 1886) and sister Bronislava Fominitchna (born in 1891).

In 1900, he joined the Imperial Ballet School and learnt ballet under celebrated ballet dancers Sergei Legat, Nicholas Legat and Enrico Cecchetti.

He earned supporting roles in classical ballets such as ‘Swan Lake’, ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and subsequently he won the Didelot scholarship.

He spent much of his school life away from classrooms as he was chosen to play roles in ballet performances with several productions. This impacted his academic grades negatively.

In 1904, he was given the lead role in Marius Petipa’s last ballet, La Romance d'un Bouton de rose et d'un Papillon. However, the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War that year prevented the ballet from being performed.

Vaslav Nijinsky began his career as coryphée with the Mariinsky theatre in 1907. Though his roles in ballet performances were predominantly minor, he focused on showcasing his skill and technical abilities. In the years that followed, he was given the opportunity to perform solo roles as well.

In 1908, he met Sergei Diaghilev, a Russian art critic and producer of opera, ballet and art exhibitions. This was a turning point in his life. He gradually became good friends with Sergei Diaghilev and his work and career was later managed by Sergei Diaghilev to a large extent.

The following year Sergei Diaghilev organized a tour of Paris with his ballet and dance companies and painters. Vaslav Nijinsky was assigned one of the lead roles and the tour ended as a huge success. His partnership with dancer Tamara Karsavina was well acclaimed.

He performed several acts, which went on to be regarded as his signature performances, such as ‘Cleopatra’, ‘The Feast’ and “Le Pavillon d'Armide”. Between 1907 and 1911, he was also a guest performer at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

In 1910, a fellow ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska opted for him to perform in the revival of Marius Petipa's ‘Le Talisman’. His role as Wind God Vayou earned him much appreciation and popularity.

Vaslav Nijinsky earned much popularity and appreciation from audience with his versatility and perfection in art. His signature performances include his performances in ‘Ivanotschka’, ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, ’Giselle’ and ‘Chopiniana’.