Marina Svetlova

Marina Svetlova (born Yvette von Hartmann; 3 May 1922 – 11 February 2009) was a French and American ballerina and ballet instructor.

[1] Svetlova was born in Paris, France, with the name Yvette von Hartmann to Russian parents.

While there she notably created roles in David Lichine's Graduation Ball and George Balanchine's Balustrade.

From 1944 to 1969 Svetlova led her own touring dance concert group and made guest appearances in Europe with Guido Lauri.

Svetlova's accomplishments as a ballerina were later eclipsed by her second career as a dance teacher and choreographer at the Southern Vermont Arts Center (1959–64); the Svetlova Dance Center in Dorset, VT (1965–95); and Indiana University where she was professor of ballet and chairwoman of the ballet department (1969–92).