Dokoudovsky, Vladimir

Vladimir Dokoudovsky (1919-1998, age 79). [Luce Index™ rank 91]. Legendary dancer and teacher who was a soloist with Ballet Russe de Montecarlo (directed by L. Massine), coaching Alexandro Dávalos in a variation of Sleeping Beauty. New York Conservatory of Dance, 1990. Known as “The Duke,” Dokoudovsky taught dance on New York City for fifty years.

Born in Monte Carlo of Russian parents, the family moved to Paris when he was young. At the age of nine The Duke was enrolled in a Parisian ballet class, the only boy. He remained a student of a great ballerina until 1934, when he won first place in the first dance competition in Paris “Concours International de la Danse.”

Dokoudovsky recognized his mentors, Bronislava Nijinska, Lubov Tchernicheva, George Balanchine, Anatol Vilzak, Ludmila Shollar, Pierre Vladimiroff, Anatol Oboukhov, and Mikhail Mordkin.

Dokoudovsky’s performing career spanned the years from 1934 to 1950, in companies including Opera de Monte Carlo, Ballet Russe de l’Opera Comique de Paris, National Polish Ballet, Monte Carlo Ballet Russe (under the direction of Leonide Massine), Mordkin Ballet, Ballet Theatre, de Basil’s Original Ballet Russe, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Danish Royal Ballet.

The Duke danced in the films of Graduation Ball and Swan Lake, and also in a ballet sequence in The Revolt of the Phantom. His television credits include Toast of the Town with Renée Jeanmaire, Gaité Parisienne, and Agnes de Mille’s History of Ballet, on Omnibus.

The Duke was married to Nina Stroganova and were considered a team equal to that of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the classical ballet. They finally divorced, but remained partners as teacher at Ballet Arts and New York Conservatory of Dance.

Because of severe arthritis The Duke  was forced to retire from performing in 1950. He, like Carlo Blasis, wanted to quit dance before dance quit him. The Duke taught at Ballet Arts Studio “61” from 1947 to 1977, simultaneously giving classes at Ballet Theatre School, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Arts in Tokyo. In 1977, with his wife Patricia Heyes he opened “New York Conservatory of Dance” at 56th Street and Broadway. His school moved to 30 East 31st Street in 1987. In 1996 he received the Vaslav Nijinsky Medal, which was presented to him by the Polish consulate.

(Top photo © Art Labour Archives 2012)

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