Massine, Léonide

(born Aug. 9, 1896, Moscow, Russia—died March 15, 1979, Cologne, W.Ger.) Russian-born French dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He joined the Ballets Russes in 1914 and produced his first ballet, Midnight Sun, in 1915; this was followed by Parade (1917), The Three-Cornered Hat (1919), and Pulcinella (1920). He extended Michel Fokine's reforms by enriching the characterization of many roles. During 1932–38 he was principal dancer and choreographer for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. His ballets Les Présages (1933), Choreartium (1933), and Rouge et noir (1939) displayed innovative choreography and set designs and were among the first dances based on symphonies. In 1938–42 he directed his re-formed Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and he became artistic director of a new Ballet de Monte Carlo in 1966.