- Tatiana Mamaki
Infobox_Person
name = Tatiana Mamaki
"Τατιάνα Μαμάκη"
birth_date = 1921
birth_place =Kiev ,Ukraine
death_date = 2007
death_place =Athens ,Greece
occupation =dancer ,choreographer Tatiana Varouti Mamaki (
Kiev , 1921-Athens , 2007) was a notable Greek dancer and choreographer.Life and work
She studied dance in
Athens atRaymons School and later inPoland where she worked at theWarsaw Opera as a dancer ; in 1939 she returned toAthens to work for theGreek National Opera .On5 March 1940 theGreek National Opera had its first official opening with the inauguratingJohann Strauss operetta, "Die Fledermaus ", in which Mamaki wasprima ballarina . She remained in this position for almost ten years, dancing in a long series of productions.In 1949 Mamaki left forParis with a scholarship in choreography studies at the renownedPreobrazenski School, and on her return toAthens was hired from theGreek National Opera as choreographer.In 1952 she was invited to attend advanced lessons of choreography at theSadler's Wells Theatre inLondon .Mamaki founded the Athens School of Ballet with
Elen Tsoukala-Pfefer (1955-1958), with some of her most unforgettable performances including those of "Faust" withNikos Moschonas inAthens and "Norma" withMaria Callas inEpidavrus during 1960.She collaborated with theState Theatre of Northern Greece and theNational Theatre of Cyprus , also acting as choreographer for a number of film productions.She married the musician and composer
Leonidas Zoras , and laterAchilleas Mamakis . Following the death of the latter she continued his radio programme "The theatre on the microphone" at the National Radiophone Institute (EIR) , later transferring it to television.Legacy
Mamaki was the recipient of a
French Government medal for contributions to Arts, Sciences and Letters.Greece awarded her theKoula Pratsika medal of honour for her lifetime contribution.ee also
*
Greek National Opera Sources
* [http://www.tanea.gr/print.php?e=A&f=18749&m=P44&aa=3 «Τα Νέα», 26 Ιανουαρίου 2007, A tribute to Mamaki by "Ta Nea" daily]
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