Sergii Mykhailovych Lyfar
was a leading dancer and choreographer of the first theater of France's Grand Opera. He was a brilliant teacher, historian and theoretician of dance, art collector, and perhaps the most vivid ballet legend of the 20th century.
Serge was born on April 2, 1905 in Kyiv into the family of a wealthy official of the Department of Water and Forestry, Mykhailo Lyfar and his wife Sofia Marchenko-Lyfar. He received his first professional ballet lessons in the private studio of Bronislava Nizhinsky, a ballerina and choreographer, sister of the famous dancer Vaslav Nizhinsky. In 1923, S. Lyfar went abroad to France and joined the Ballet troupe of S.P. Diaghilev.
Constantly studying and improving the technique, S. Lyfar reached a high level of skill and later became the leading dancer of the troupe.
In 1929, S. Lyfar was invited to the National Opera Theater of France (Grand Opera) as a dancer and choreographer in the ballet production, "The Creation of Prometheus."
After the premiere of the ballet, which was a huge success and was S. Lyfar's first independent choreography, he received recognition, both as a dancer and as a choreographer.
Since then, he became not only the leading dancer of the Grand Opera, but also the choreographer and head of the ballet troupe.
S. Lyfar played a significant role in the development of ballet art in France and enriched the repertoire of the Grand Opera by staging more than 200 original performances.
Thanks to his dedicated work and fanatical love for ballet, the Paris Opera became a world-famous temple of dance, and the ballet troupe that he led for more than 30 years became one of the best in the world.
S. Lyfar made a significant contribution to the development of dance theory. In 1935, he published the Choreographer's Manifesto, where self-sufficiency of dance and its independence from music was one of the main theses.
Stage costume for the ballet "Icarus"
All these theoretical principles were implemented when the ballet, "Icarus" was created, which became a pearl in his creative choreographic work.
For this performance, Serhii Mykhailovych, the first among dancers, received the title of "étoile" (translated from French –"star").
During the Second World War, when Paris was occupied by the troops of fascist Germany, S.M. Lyfar headed the Grand Opera. According to him, he took this step in order to save the theater from destruction and thereby thank the country that became his second Motherland. During this period, he created a number of ballets, among which the most famous are: "The Knight and the Maiden," "Bolero" (1941), "Joan of Tsarissa" (1942), "Suite in White" (1943), and "Mirage" (1944).
Sketch of scenery for the ballet The Knight and the Girl (1941) by CassandreNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
Sketch
of scenery for the ballet The Knight and the Girl (1941)
Because of his activities, Serge Lifar was accused of collaborationism and was forced to move to Monaco for the period from 1945 to 1947, where he created the New Ballet of Monte Carlo troupe. With this troupe in 1946, S. Lyfar staged the ballet, "Shota Rustaveli." After the end of the war, all charges against S.M. Lyfar were dropped due to unfoundedness, and the death sentence was cancelled. In 1947, S. Lyfar returned to Paris and again led the ballet troupe of the Grand Opera.
Serge Lifar with the Grand Opera Ballet Company on the main steps of the theater (1956 - 1958) by UnknownNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
Serge Lifar with the Grand Opera ballet troupe on the main steps of the theater
As a teacher, S. Lyfar contributed to the formation of a galaxy of bright ballet stars – Yvette Chauviere, Lisette Darsonval, and Michel Reno. In 1947, he founded the Institute of Choreography in Paris, and starting in 1955, he led a course in the history and theory of dance at the Sorbonne.
Serhiy Lifar was awarded the Legion of Honor. In 1955, he received the highest award in the field of choreography – the Golden Ballet Shoe –for his 25 years of work at the National Opera Theater of France.
Order of the Legion of Honor of Serhiy Lyfar
Serhiy Mykhailovych's career at the Paris Opera House ended in 1958. From that time began a difficult and tragic period of his life. He was a famous man, an idol who resurrected the glory of French ballet, and suddenly he was forgotten.
Only for a short time in 1962–1963 and 1977, he was invited to perform ballet productions at the Grand Opera (in particular, he created the choreography for the ballet, "Queen of Spades").
Picture (1973) by Serge LifarNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
In the 1970s, Serge Lyfar, who had been drawing small drawings and sketches before that, devoted himself completely to painting.
In his autobiographical book, "Memoirs of Icarus," he describes his new hobby as follows: "... From 1970 to 1975, I experienced the joy of painting. I tried to depict dance movements, colors and rhythms with acrylic paints."
"I dedicated these graphic, almost plastic works to my friend, Pablo Picasso. He was so kind that he was surprised, admired my work, and warmly advised me to continue. Only, I'm not an artist, but a choreographer who draws." Since 1972, Serge Lyfar regularly organized exhibitions of his works in Cannes, Paris, Venice, and Monte Carlo.
In 1975, Serge Lyfar suddenly stopped painting because he could not come to terms with the fact that his paintings were scattered all over the world.
Picture (1973) by Serge LifarNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
The museum collection includes 25 paintings and linocuts by Serge Lyfar.
In 1981, S. Lyfar moved to Switzerland – first to Glion, then to Lausanne. Serhii Mykhailovych died on December 15, 1986 at the age of 81. He was buried near Paris at the cemetery of St. Genevieve de Bois. On the tombstone, there is an inscription in French: "Serge Lifar de Kiev." In 1994, the international competition was named after Serge Lyfar in his honor, and since 1995, the festival has been called "Serge Lyfar de la dans."
Picture (1973) by Serge LifarNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
In 2002, and then in 2007, Countess Inga Lisa Alefeldt-Lorvig, who shared about 30 years of married life with S. Lyfar, donated part of the artistic heritage and personal belongings of the outstanding dancer to Ukraine for free.
Stage costume for the ballet Apollo Musaget
The life and work of Serhii Mykhailovych Lyfar are vivid examples of service to the art of ballet. His name, known on all continents, is engraved in golden letters on the tablets of the history of world culture.
Research and text: Olena Ivanova
Project Сurator: Olena Ivanova
Technical implementation: Oleg Mitiukhin, Oksana Mitiukhina, Liudmyla Klymuk
Scientific editor: Olena Ivanova
Text editor: Yevgeniia Lebid-Hrebeniuk
Translation: Dmytro Mitiukhin
Selection of exhibits: Olena Ivanova
Photographer: V. Kashtanov, Oleg Mitiukhin
