Boris Volkoff
| Boris Volkoff | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Boris Vladimirovich Baskakoff April 24, 1900 Schepotievo, Russia |
| Died | March 11, 1974 (aged 73) Toronto, Canada |
| Occupation | Dancer, director, ballet master |
| Former groups | Volkoff Canadian Ballet |
Boris Vladimirovich Volkoff, OC (born Boris Vladimirovich Baskakoff; April 24, 1900 – March 11, 1974) was a Canadian-Russian ballet dancer, director, choreographer and ballet master. After studying dance in Warsaw and Moscow he defected from Russia and eventually settled in Toronto. He created the Boris Volkoff School of Dance which trained ballet dancers, and the Boris Volkoff Ballet Company which is arguably considered the first ballet company in Canada. He gave his dancers and studio to the National Ballet of Canada to raise the profile of Canadian ballet. He regretted this decision and attempted to revive his company which ended in failure. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1973, one year before his death.
Volkoff, birth name Boris Vladimirovich Baskakoff, was born on April 24, 1900, in Schepotievo, Russia.
When he was nine Volkoff joined his brother Igor in Warsaw to dance and perform for the Russian Army. He alternated between using this birth name and performing using the last name Volkoff, his mother’s family name.
Volkoff attended the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and later danced with Mordkin Ballet and the Moscow State Youth Ballet. During a Siberian tour Volkoff defected from Russia and went to Shanghai. He joined the Shanghai Variety Ballet and toured with Russian expatriates to various Asian countries and the United States. He danced with Adolph Bolm’s company until his visa expired and Volkoff was smuggled into Canada in 1929. He became ballet master at Jack Arthur’s Uptown Theatre in Toronto and choreographed short dances that were performed between films. It was during this time that he decided to use Volkoff as his stage name.
In 1930 Volkoff opened the Boris Volkoff School of Dance, which operated until 1974. In 1932 he created ice ballet versions of Swan Lake and Prince Igor with the Toronto Skating Club. He continued creating works for the club for fourteen seasons.
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