Serafina Astafieva

[1] Astafieva was a pupil of the Imperial Ballet School, graduating in 1895.

In 1896 she married the famous character dancer Jozef Kshessinsky, brother of the prima ballerina Mathilde Kschessinskaya.

After retiring from performing she opened the Russian Dancing Academy at The Pheasantry on King's Road in Chelsea, London.

Her pupils included Anton Dolin, Margot Fonteyn,[1] Alicia Markova,[2] Hermione Darnborough,[3] Madeleine Vyner,[4] and Joan Lawson.

[5] A blue plaque unveiled in 1968 commemorates Astafieva at 152 King's Road in Chelsea.