Golovine, Serge (b Monte Carlo, 20 Nov. 1924, d Paris, 31 July 1998). French dancer and teacher. He studied with Julie Sedova in Nice (from 1935) and with Gustave Ricaux in Monaco, later with Preobrajenska and Volinine in Paris. He performed with the Opera Ballet of Monte Carlo during the Second World War. In 1947 he joined the Paris Opera Ballet, where he eventually became a soloist. His roles included Balanchine's Symphony in C and Serenade. From 1949 to 1961 he was with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, where he achieved international fame as a world-class dancer. Much admired for his batterie, he made the Blue Bird and Spectre de la rose his own; he was also acclaimed for his Petrushka. He created the role of the Man in Lifar's L'Amour et son destin (1957). In 1962 he founded his own troupe, Les Compagnons de la Danse, for whom he made several works; from 1964 to 1969 he was artistic director and principal dancer of the Geneva Opera Ballet. He retired from the stage in 1976. He founded his own school in Geneva in 1969, and taught at the Paris Opera Ballet School from 1981. Légion d'honneur (1998).

The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. Copyright © 2000, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.