January 19
Born Today:
Natacha Rambova
Natacha Rambova (1897-1966) was best known as once being the wife of silent screen star and dancer, Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926). Inspired by ballerina Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), Rambova decided to pursue dance as a career, and she studied with Theodore Kosloff (1882-1956) in New York. She followed Kosloff to the West Coast in 1917 when he was hired by Cecil B. DeMille and Rambova found a job as a costume designer for MGM Pictures - she soon became an art director, creating both sets and costumes. Her style epitomized the Art Deco aesthetic and her study of Egyptian art and artifacts suffused her designs.
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Ballet Premiere: Raymonda in 1898