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Serge Diaghilev, 1916. (credit: Dance Collection, the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations)

(born March 31, 1872, Novgorod province, Russia — died Aug. 19, 1929, Venice, Italy) Russian impresario, founder-director of the Ballets Russes. After studying law at the University of St. Petersburg (1890 – 96), he cofounded and edited (1899 – 1904) the avant-garde magazine Mir Iskusstva ("World of Art"). He then left Russia for Paris to present productions of Russian ballet and opera, to wide acclaim. In 1909 he established the Ballets Russes, in which he achieved a stunning synthesis of dance, art, and music by bringing together superb choreographers, dancers, composers, and artists and set designers. He led the company until his death.

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