Milorad Miskovitch

Miskovitch, Milorad (b Voljevo, 26 Mar. 1928). Yugoslavian-French dancer and teacher. He studied in Belgrade with Kirsanova, and in Paris with Kniaseff and Preobrajenska. He made his debut as a dancer at the Belgrade State Opera House in 1945. In 1947 he danced with the Ballets des Champs-Elysées, the International Ballet, and de Basil's Original Ballet Russe. He also danced with de Cuevas's Grand Ballet de Monte Carlo (1948) and Petit's Ballets de Paris (1949). After appearing with the Ballets Janine Charrat and with London Festival Ballet (1952), touring with Markova (1954) and Colette Marchand (1955), he founded his own company in 1956, Les Ballets 1956 de Miskovitch, which continued to tour for ten years. He joined Massine's Ballet Europeo in 1960 and Page's Chicago Opera Ballet in 1961. He was a frequent guest artist around Europe. He created roles in Béjart's Haut voltage (1956), Howard's La Belle Dame sans merci (1958), Massine's Commedia umana (1960), and Page's Die Fledermaus (1961). His own choreography includes Beethoven's Creatures of Prometheus (Genoa, 1970); in 1974 he staged an important production of Giselle for Carla Fracci at the Arena di Verona. President of the International Dance Council of UNESCO (1989-99).