Tamara Geva American actress and ballerina Date of Birth: 17.03.1907 Country: USA

1. Biography of Tamara Geva
2. Marriage and Ballet Career
3. Transition to Acting and Broadway
4. Television and Film Career
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Tamara Geva

Tamara Geva, born in 1907, was an American actress and ballerina. She was born to a wealthy family in St. Petersburg, Russia, to a successful manufacturer, Levko Gevergeyev, and a Swedish mother. As a young girl, Tamara studied ballet with her own teacher and later joined the prestigious school at the Mariinsky Theater (Leningrad State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after S.M. Kirov) after the revolution in 1917.

Marriage and Ballet Career

During her time at the ballet school, Tamara married American dancer George Balanchine, with whom she lived for five years. In 1924, Tamara and her husband joined the Ballets Russes company and performed with them for two years until 1926. Shortly after, she made her first appearances in America, performing in two small but popular productions.

Transition to Acting and Broadway

Tamara's success in America led her to pursue a career in acting and she decided to stay in the United States instead of returning to Russia. Throughout the 1930s, she participated in various Broadway productions, including "Three's A Crowd," "Flying Colors," and "Whoopee." In 1935, she started performing with the American Ballet company.

Television and Film Career

In addition to her stage work, Tamara began appearing in television and film productions in the 1930s. Some of her notable works include "Orchestra Wives," "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round," and "Night Club." In 1953, she appeared in a remake of the play "Misalliance," alongside actors Roddy McDowall and Richard Kiley.

Later Years and Legacy

Tamara's final stage performance was in the play "Frevel," which premiered in 1984. In her later years, she developed a passion for painting and organized several exhibitions of her artwork. On December 9, 1997, Tamara Geva passed away in her own home from natural causes at the age of just over 90.

Overall, Tamara Geva was a talented and versatile artist who left a lasting impact on both the ballet and acting worlds. Her contributions to the performing arts continue to be appreciated and remembered.